A Morphological, Semantic and Etymological Approach to Toponymy of the East Titteri Atlas (South West Bouira and South East Medea Region)

Abstract

The place names or toponyms of certain territories are a sort of window that opens on the history of its population. A good knowledge of these toponyms means understanding better history, culture and especially the language or dialect of the region. Therefore, our research work entitled “A Morphological, Semantic and Etymological Analysis of East Titteri Atlas Toponymy” aims to shed light on place names of Titteri region situated in southwest Bouira and southeast Medea. The toponyms of the region will be collected, explained etymologically and semantically and then analyzed through tables and pie charts. The study combines two methodologies in collecting the research data. Most of the data will be collected first using a quantitative approach. A number of local maps of the region will be used. The qualitative approach in this study is represented in a short questionnaire addressed to people who have a good knowledge of the local place names (especially the place names that don’t figure on the maps). After being collected the toponyms will be analyzed morphologically and semantically. Their origins and etymologies will also be given. The main objective of the study is to investigate the local and native toponymy of a region that is not given much attention. Anthropological, social, linguistic and economic studies of the Titteri Atlas region are measly and scanty. This study is meant to contribute to some degree to the field of historical linguistics. It will not be the last research made on the region.