hɪz fˈɑːðɚ, ˈɔːɡəstˌɪn bˈɜːk, wʌzɐ skˈɑːlɚ ænd ˈæɹɐbˌɪst ʌv dɪstˈɪŋkʃən, wˈʌn ʌvðə fjˈuː tə tˈeɪk ɐn ˈɪntɹɛst ɪnðə mˈʊzlɪm kˈʌltʃɚɹ ʌvðə mˈæɡɹɛb.
His father, Augustin Berque, was a scholar and Arabist of distinction, one of the few to take an interest in the Muslim culture of the Maghreb.