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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 "
Chaldean misnomer" (Chaldaic, Chaldee) for the
Biblical Aramaic.[3] The
exonymic origin and nature of the ancient Greek use of "Syrian"
labels as designations for ancient
Arameans and their language (in
Septuagint and other Greek sources) was also analyzed,[4] but conventional Syrian/Syriac nomenclature was kept in reference to Edessan Aramaic language, still labeled as
Classical Syriac.[5]
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]
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.
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]
Christian Aramaic studies are an
interdisciplinary field, both of
Christian studies and of Aramaic studies, dedicated to the study of linguistic and cultural heritage of Aramaic-speaking Christian communities, historical and modern. Christian Aramaic studies emerged in Europe by the end of the 15th century,[15] and developed gradually during the
Early Modern period.[1]
Jastrow, Otto (2011).
"Ṭuroyo and Mlaḥsô". The Semitic Languages: An International Handbook. Berlin-Boston: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 697–707.
ISBN9783110251586.
Tezel, Sina (2015).
"Arabic or Ṣūrayt/Ṭūrōyo". Arabic and Semitic Linguistics Contextualized: A Festschrift for Jan Retsö. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 554–568.
Tezel, Sina (2015).
"Neologisms in Ṣūrayt/Ṭūrōyo". Neo-Aramaic in Its Linguistic Context. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press. pp. 100–109.