Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

On Learning Aramaic and Syriac - Part 3

There is not much available as far as grammars for Targumic and Talmudic Aramaic literature, as the basic structure of the grammar doesn't change from that of Biblical Aramaic. What the student will need is a more extensive dictionary for those resources, since the Biblical Aramaic vocabulary is so limited. The most useful dictionary of this sort is A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature, by Morris Jastrow. It is an older work that has been kept in print but for a comprehensive work for this literature, it really has no competition. As the title indicates, it covers the Targums, both the Babylonian and the Jerusalem Talmuds, and the midrashic literature.

Moving into later Aramaic, which is essentially what Syriac is, the choices for grammars are limited. For those who have a fair mastery of Hebrew, the main issue will be learning the Syriac scripts and familiarization with the difference between Hebrew and Syriac syntax. For someone at this level, I could recommend Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar, by Theodore H. Robinson. It is an older work (1949) but widely available and cheap on the used market. The work covers the essential matters in a straight-forward and businesslike fashion. Three other works that are available, though two are not cheap.The first is Grammar of the Aramaic Syriac Language, by Paul Al-kfarnissy. It is published by Gorgias Press, which specializes in Aramaic and Syriac related works. It retails for $48.00, and I haven't found it cheaper. The second is Classical Syriac: A Basic Grammar with a Chrestomathy, by T. Muraoka. It is published by a European publisher, so the price is up near $70.00. The advantage of this work is that it is up-to-date and Muraoka is a top-notch linguist (for those wondering what a chrestomathy is, it is a collection of selected readings, usually on a graduated scale of difficulty, intended to help the student make progress in learning how to read a language). The third work is inexpensive. It is Introduction to Syriac: An Elementary Grammar with Readings from Syriac Literature, by Wheeler M. Thackston. It is a relatively new work, and is available for under $25.00. This would probably be the best starting point for most students.

To go along with any of these, the student will need a dictionary. Here there is not much choice. J. Payne Smith's A Compendious Syriac Dictionary, is about the only thing on the market. It is a reprint of an older work, but since it is of limited interest and published by a specialty reprinting house, it is not cheap, running about $40.00. Along with this dictionary, the student might be interested in A Short History of Syriac Literature, by William Wright. This is another reprint of an old work (originally published 1894), but it seems to be about the only thing on the market.

Next week, I'll wrap up this little series by discussing Syriac texts, where and which to by and why.

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