Aramaic studies

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The Carpentras Stele was the first ancient inscription ever identified as Aramaic, in 1821

Aramaic studies are

Arabic studies
.

As a distinctive academic discipline, Aramaic studies started to develop during the

Early Modern period,[1] and they were initially focused on the study of the Christian Aramaic heritage, embodied in Syriac language and cultural traditions of Syriac Christianity. The field was gradually widened, and by the 19th century expanded towards studies of ancient Aramaic heritage, that included all of the oldest (pre-Christian) varieties of Aramaic languages, and ancient Aramaic alphabet. On the other side, the field was also expanded towards modern periods, focused on the study of the remaining Neo-Aramaic languages, and modern cultural heritage of Neo-Aramaic communities.[2]

During the 19th century, Aramaic studies were constituted as a modern scientific field of research. In the process, several traditional misconceptions were challenged and consequently abandoned, most notable of them being the long-standing "

One of the main issues within the field was the question of historical periodization of Aramaic language, and adoption of specific terms for various historical stages, and branches of the Aramaic linguistic tree.[6][7][8][9]

In modern times, Aramaic studies are organized within distinctive academic centers and programs, like those at the

Aramaic language and Syriac language within a biblical studies
program.

Neirab
, 7th century B.C.

Aramaic academic journals include the annual Aramaic Studies, a leading journal for Aramaic language and literature published by Brill Academic Publishers. The journal incorporates the previous Journal for the Aramaic Bible for a more inclusive scope, to include all aspects of Aramaic language and literature, even when not, or only indirectly, related to Biblical texts.

Specialists in Aramaic studies are known as Aramaicists, while scholars who are involved in Syriac studies are known as Syriacists.

Specific disciplines

Emil Kautzsch
(1841-1910)

Aramaic studies are branched into several

Christian studies
.

Neo-Aramaic studies

Neo-Aramaic studies represent a specific field of research within Aramaic studies, that is dedicated to the study of Neo-Aramaic languages, history and culture.[2][11]

Syriac studies

Syriac studies represent a specific field of research within Aramaic studies, that is dedicated to the study of Syriac language and Syriac Christianity.[12][13][14]

Christian Aramaic studies

Christian Aramaic studies are an

Early Modern period.[1]

Jewish Aramaic studies

Jewish Aramaic studies are an

interdisciplinary field, both of Jewish studies and of Aramaic studies, dedicated to the study of Judeo-Aramaic languages and cultural heritage of Aramaic-speaking Jewish communities, historical and modern.[16]

Mandaean studies

Mandaean are dedicated to the study of Mandaic language and cultural heritage of Aramaic-speaking Mandaean communities, both historical and modern.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Burnett 2005, p. 421-436.
  2. ^ a b Heinrichs 1990.
  3. ^ Gallagher 2012, p. 123-141.
  4. ^ Wevers 2001, p. 237-251.
  5. ^ Brock 2006.
  6. ^ Fitzmyer 1997, p. 57-60.
  7. ^ Moriggi 2012, p. 279–289.
  8. ^ Gzella 2015, p. 47-48.
  9. ^ Butts 2019, p. 222-225.
  10. ^ Teule 2007, p. 391.
  11. ^ Mengozzi 2011, p. 233-265.
  12. ^ Brock 1992.
  13. ^ Brock 1994, p. 13–29.
  14. ^ Teule 2007, p. 387–400.
  15. ^ Wilkinson 2016, p. 171.
  16. ^ Morgenstern 2011.

Sources