Aramaic

Syriac Aramaic

Aramaic alphabet

This clay tablet represents a classroom experiment; a teacher imposed a challenging writing exercise on pupils who spoke both languages. The pupils had to use traditional syllabic signs to express the sounds of the Aramaic alphabet

Carpentras Stela, in CIS II 141 (cropped)

Syriac inscription at Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archbishop's House Ernakulam

Aramaic is a Semitic language that originated among the Aramaic people in the ancient region of the Near East. Over the course of several millennia, it has played a pivotal role in the history and culture of various peoples in the Middle East. Aramaic holds the distinction of being a lingua franca in the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian Empire, and the Persian Empire, facilitating communication across vast territories. Its influence extended into the early Christian era, where it was spoken by Jesus Christ and his disciples, highlighting its significance in Christianity.

History

Aramaic's history is divided into several periods: Old Aramaic (1100–200 BC), Official Aramaic (700–300 BC), Middle Aramaic (200 BC – 200 AD), and Late Aramaic (200 AD onwards). The language's earliest inscriptions date back to the 10th century BC, making it one of the world's oldest recorded languages.

During the Neo-Assyrian Empire, Aramaic began to spread as a lingua franca, a status it retained under the Babylonians and Persians. This widespread use facilitated the creation of the Aramaic script, which influenced the development of the Hebrew alphabet, Arabic script, and possibly the Brahmi script.

Dialects

Aramaic is known for its diverse range of dialects, which can be broadly categorized into Western Aramaic and Eastern Aramaic. Western Aramaic dialects are now mostly extinct, with a few exceptions like the language spoken in the village of Maaloula in Syria. Eastern Aramaic dialects have evolved into various modern languages, such as Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, and Turoyo.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Aramaic has a profound cultural and religious significance. It was the language of large sections of the biblical books of Daniel and Ezra, and the Talmud was also written in Aramaic. In Christianity, several important early Christian texts, such as the Peshitta (the Syriac version of the Bible), are in Aramaic. The language's influence persists in Jewish and Christian liturgies to this day.

Modern Aramaic

Despite its ancient origins, Aramaic is not a dead language. It is still spoken in various forms by small communities, particularly among Assyrians and Chaldeans in the Middle East and in the diaspora. However, these languages face challenges such as displacement, conflict, and the dominance of other languages, which threaten their survival.

Preservation Efforts

Efforts to preserve and revitalize Aramaic include educational programs, digital resources, and scholarly research. Organizations and individuals are working to document the language and support its speakers, aiming to keep this ancient language alive for future generations.