Language Studies

Aramaic Thoughts

Aramaic/Syriac Basics for English Readers - Part 1

Over the next few weeks, I will introduce some basics of Aramaic/Syriac grammar. This is intended to help the reader understand comments about grammar and syntax that I make in dealing with particular texts from the Peshitta, the Syriac translation of the Bible.

To begin, we have to make a distinction between Aramaic and Syriac. Syriac is a late dialect of Aramaic, so there are some developments and changes between the earlier Aramaic and the later Syriac. The most obvious of these differences is in the written language. Aramaic, at least as it appears in modern texts, uses what is sometimes called the “square script.” This is the same script that is used for Hebrew in modern Hebrew Bibles. Thus, when the book of Daniel moves from Hebrew to Aramaic in 2:4, there is no change in script. This is also the form of script used for the Aramaic in the Talmud.

Syriac, on the other hand, is found in three different scripts. The one most commonly used in academic publications today is called Estrangela. It has a formal character to it, but does not look anything like the “square script.” The second form of Syriac is usually called Nestorian in the grammars, but is sometimes also referred to as Maronite or Jacobite, though the latter name is usually avoided in polite conversation. The Nestorian script is clearly derived from Estrangela, though the characters are more cursive. The third form of the Syriac alphabet is called Serta, and looks much like Arabic. We will have examples of all three in coming weeks.

Like Hebrew, Aramaic/Syriac is a Semitic language. That means it shares general characteristics with other Semitic languages. This has to be understood properly, because sometimes amateurs make mistaken assumptions on the basis of the general characteristics. As an example that might have more meaning to most readers, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian are all Romance languages. That doesn’t mean they are the languages of love, but rather that they descend from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. However, that doesn’t mean that the languages are identical. Spelling varies, as do various rules of grammar and even word formation between related languages. The importance of these considerations will become obvious in the coming weeks.

As for Semitic languages, perhaps the most notable characteristic is that the words are based on three-letter roots. From these roots, various modifications produce nouns and various verb forms. As an example, take the Hebrew root dbr. From this root is derived the noun dabar, which means “word.” From this same root the verb form dibber, which means “he spoke” also comes. However, not all roots necessarily have related noun and verb forms, and sometimes there are homonymous roots: that is, two entirely different words may have the same root letters.

Next week we will begin looking at the Syriac alphabet, and then move on to word formation.

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