Biblical Aramaic and Related Dialects: An Introduction

Description

Biblical Aramaic and Related Dialects is a comprehensive, introductory-level textbook for the acquisition of the language of the Old Testament and related dialects that were in use from the last few centuries BCE. Based on the latest research, it uses a method that guides students into knowledge of the language inductively, with selections taken from the Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and papyrus discoveries from ancient Egypt. The volume offers a comprehensive view of ancient Aramaic that enables students to progress to advanced levels with a solid grounding in historical grammar. Most up-to-date description of Aramaic in light of modern discoveries and methods. Provides more detail than previous textbooks. Includes comprehensive description of Biblical dialect, along with Aramaic of the Persian period and of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Guided readings begin with primary sources, enabling students learn the language by reading historical texts. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Contents Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations and Notes Chapter 1 Introduction: Aramaic and Its Dialects Beginnings of Aramaic Aramaic and Empire Imperial Aramaic The Elephantine Papyri: Publication and Contents Other Imperial Aramaic Texts Aramaic in the Jewish Community after the Exile After Imperial Aramaic Biblical and Qumran Aramaic The Aramaic of Daniel Qumran Aramaic Texts Qumran Aramaic: The Language Orthography Morphology Syntax Lexicon The Uniformity of the Dialects The Vowel Points of the Masoretic Text Jewish Literary Aramaic Tools for Research Bibliography Text Editions Dictionaries and Other Lexical Resources Grammars Concordances Chapter 2 Orthography Consonantal Alphabet Final Letters Vowel Points ?a?eph vowels Matres lectionis (Consonants as Vowel Indicators) Defective and Plene Spelling Dagesh Other Graphic Signs Ketiv-Qere Chapter 3 Phonology Consonantal Inventory Historical Changes to the Consonantal Inventory Phonemic Mergers Phonetic Processes Affecting Consonants Word-Initial w y Assimilation and Dissimilation Changes Involving Aleph Changes Involving h Change of Word-Final *m to n Changes Involving w and y Metathesis Gemination and Nasalization Spirantization (Fricativization) Historical Changes Affecting Vowels Stress Syllables Simplification of Triphthongs Loss of Final Short Vowels Separating Vowels in a Consonant Cluster Vowel Inventory of Biblical Aramaic Short Vowels Long Vowels Diphthongs Shewa Gutturals and Their Effect on Vowels Phonological Rules Summary Vocalization and Transcription of Unpointed Texts Chapter 4 Nouns and Adjectives: Inflection and Derivation Inflectional System of Nouns and Adjectives Declensions Declensional Suffixes First Declension Second Declension Declensions and Gender Tantum Plurale Nouns of Mixed Declensions Irregular Nouns The Dual Final -e Nouns Adjectives Ending in -ay Derivation of Nouns and Adjectives Biliteral bases Triliteral Bases Patterns with Consonantal Afformatives Borrowed Nouns Chapter 5 Pronouns Independent Personal Pronouns Pronominal Suffixes Nouns: First Series Nouns: Second Series Imperial Aramaic Pronominal Suffixes: Second Series QA Pronominal Suffixes: Second Series Pronominal Suffixes on Finite Verbs and Volitives BA Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Consonants BA Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Vowels IA Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Consonants Imperial Aramaic: Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Vowels QA Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Consonants QA Suffixes on Verbs Ending in Vowels Pronominal Suffixes on Infinitives and Participles Pronominal Suffixes on Prepositions The Particle ?? Demonstrative Pronouns Third Person Independent Pronouns as Demonstratives Interrogatives/Indefinite Nouns Chapter 6 Noun Phrases Simple Noun Phrases Headed Noun Phrases Noun + Adjective (Attributive Adjective) Noun + Demonstrative Pronoun Noun + Prepositional Phrase Noun + Relative Clause Genitives: Construct Phrases Nouns with Pronominal Suffixes ?? Genitives (Periphrastic Genitives) Periphrastic Genitive with ? Chapter 7 Numerals and Other Quantifiers Numerals: Form Syntax of Numerals Ordinal Numbers Cardinal Numbers Noun + ? Distributive and Reciprocal Phrases ?? as Quantifier Chapter 8 Adjective Phrases Adjectives Without Nouns Comparative Grade Chapter 9 Prepositions: Form and Function Prepositional Phrases Prepositional Survey Simple Proclitic Prepositions: מִן־ ,כְּ ,בְּ ,לְ The Preposition לְ The Preposition The Preposition The Preposition מִן Biconsonantal Prepositions Derived Prepositions Chapter 10 Verbs: Derivation and Inflection Finite Verb Conjugations and Non-Finite Forms Strong and Weak Roots Suffix Conjugation Inflectional Suffixes Prefix Conjugation Inflectional Prefixes and Suffixes G Stem, Strong Roots G Stem Suffix Conjugation, Strong Root G Stem Prefix Conjugation, Strong Root G Stem Jussive and Imperative, Strong Root G Stem Participle, Strong Root G Stem Passive, Strong Root G Stem Infinitive, Strong Root D Stem Semantics of the D Stem C Stem C Stem Finite Verbs, Strong Root C Stem Participles and Infinitives, Strong Root Cp Stem, Strong Root The L/tL Stem T Stems tG Stem, Strong Root tD Stem, Strong Root tC Stem Verbs with Weak Roots Initial Aleph Roots (I-aleph) Initial Yod/Waw Roots (I-y/w) Initial Nun (I-n) Roots Final-Weak Roots: III-y (*III-aleph) D Stem, III-y Roots C and Cp Stem, III-y Roots tG Stem, III-y Roots tD Stem, III-y Roots The Root ?? be The III-aleph Roots III-y Verbs with Pronominal Suffixes Hollow Verbs (Medial Long Vowel) The Geminate Verbs Doubly Weak Verbs The Root ??? Verbs with Borrowed Base Forms Chapter 11 Tense, Aspect, and Mood in the Verbal System TAM Features of the Suffix Conjugation Past Tense Present Tense Future Tense TAM Features of the Prefix Conjugation (Indicative) Future Tense Modality Present Tense Past Tense TAM Features of the Active Participle General Present Actual Present Imminent Present Past Progressive Habitual or Repeated Action Participles with ?? be as Auxiliary (Periphrastic Construction) Participles with ?? Use of the Passive Participles Volitive Forms: Jussive and Imperative Jussive Imperatives Infinitives Chapter 12 Verb Types: Valence, Voice, and Aktionsart Valence Voice Active and Passive Voice Reflexive, Reciprocal, Middle Voice Aktionsart Verb Types: Intransitive Middle, Reflexive, or Reciprocal Voice Intransitives The ''Ethical Dative'' Transitive VERBS Semi-Transitive Verbs Chapter 13 Adverbs and Adverbial Phrases Adverbial Form Adverbial Function Degree Adverbs Other Adverbs Adverbial Noun Phrases Chapter 14 Clauses Verbal Clauses Subject Object Word Order and Related Issues Survey of Word Order Types Objects with Infinitives Other Sentence Elements Extraposition Copular Clauses Noun or Adjective Predicate in Absolute State Prepositional Phrase Predicate Subject and Predicate Both Definite, or Both Indefinite Participial Predicates Existential Clauses Presentative Constructions Negation Interrogative Sentences Polar Questions Information-Seeking Questions Chapter 15 Clause Combining: Coordination Simple Coordination with Gapping Asyndeton Other Coordinating Conjunctions Chapter 16 Clause Combining: Subordination Purpose Clauses Causal Clauses Manner Clauses Temporal Clauses Conditional Clauses Clauses as Embedded Constituents Chapter 17 Discourse Markers (Half-Conjunctions) Chapter 18 Reading Guide for Biblical Aramaic and Related Dialects Daniel 3 READING 2: Daniel 6 Reading 3: Daniel 3:31-4:34 READING 4: Daniel 7 READING 5: Ezra 4:24-5:17 READING 6: Petition to Rebuild the Temple in Elephantine (TAD A4.7) Line 1 Lines 1-2 Lines 2-3 Line 4 Lines 4-5 Lines 5-6 Lines 6-7 Lines 7-8 Line 9 Lines 9-10 Lines 10-11 Lines 11-12 Line 13 Line 14 Line 15 Line 16 Line 16-17 Lines 17-18 Lines 18-19 Lines 19-20 Lines 20-21 Lines 21-22 Line 23 Lines 23-24 Line 25 Line 26 Lines 26-27 Lines 27-28 Lines 28-29 Line 30 READING 7: Seventeen Proverbs of Ahiqar READING 8: Genesis Apocryphon cols. 21:23-22:26 READING 9: Targum Job from Qumran, cols. 37-38 Col. 37 (Job 42:1-6 + 40:5) Line 3 Line 4 Line 5 Line 6 Line 7 Line 8 Line 9 Col. 38 (Job 42:10-12) Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5 Line 6 Line 7 Line 8 Appendices Appendix Strong Verb Paradigm Appendix III-y (Final-Weak) Verb Paradigm Appendix Hollow Verb Paradigm Synoptic Paradigm, Strong and Weak Verbs (Major Forms) G Stem Suffix Conjugation G Stem Prefix Conjugation G Stem Jussive and Imperative G Stem Infinitive and Participle C Stem Suffix Conjugation C Stem Prefix Conjugation C Stem Infinitive and Participle Appendix Genesis Apocryphon 21:23-22:26 with Tiberian Vocalization Biblical Aramaic Glossary Bibliography Index of Citations Subject Index (Numbers Refer to § Section)