Judeo-Arabic, Hilali Invaders and the Linguistic History of Libya

The present paper offers a reassessment of the linguistic history of Libya starting from the Arab conquests (7th century). The information coming from the existing literature is updated on the basis of new data, with particular regard to the type of Arabic dialects currently and historically spoken in Libya. In the paper, we argue the three different types of Maghrebi dialects were historically spoken in Libya: two different sedentary types and a Bedouin one. After the 11th century, however, the employment of the sedentary varieties was restricted to members of Jewish communities, and thus reinterpreted as a religiolect. When, in 1967, the last Jews were expelled from Libya, only Bedouin varieties continued to be spoken in the country. The discussion also highlights the drawbacks and inadequacy of the methodological tools currently at our disposal to investigate historical Maghrebi dialectology, advocating the adoption of a new paradigm and greater engagement with local histories.