Semitic Philology Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

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- Folklore, Languages and Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Arabic Literature

En mars 2008, la Mission archéologique et épigraphique franco-saoudienne dans la région de Najrān a fait la découverte d'un sanctuaire rupestre au lieu-dit ʿān Halkān (Arabie Saoudite). Il comporte notamment un siège d'apparence grossière, en maçonnerie de pierre sèche, dont l'originalité n'apparaît qu'après un examen attentif : le nom de la divinité préislamique dhū-Samāwī est gravé sur son assise. Cette contribution est consacrée à la description de ce sanctuaire et de son contexte archéologique.

- by Jérémie Schiettecatte and +3
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- Saudi Arabia, Epigraphic South Arabian, Epigraphy, Arabian Peninsula in Antiquity
- by Alessandro Mengozzi and +1
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- African Studies, Egyptology, Gender Studies, Theology

The study of the Samaritan version of Saadya Gaon’s translation of the Pentateuch (the tafsīr), mainly based on MS London BL OR7562, shows that a Saadyan version in Arabic Characters was adopted by the Samaritans and adapted to the Samaritan Hebrew Pentateuch. The transmission of this version in MS London BL OR7562 continued after the early Samaritan Arabic translation of the Pentateuch and perhaps also its later revision had already been created, since many of their translations were preserved in MS BL OR7562, mixed with its Saadyan basic text. As MS London BL OR7562 also contains numerous words and phrases paralleled only in Christian Arabic translations of the Pentateuch and Saadyan adaptations, mainly related to the Peshitta tradition, it is reasonable to assume that these were the sources of this Samaritan Saadyan version and possibly also of the other Samaritan Arabic translations. The Samaritan version of Saadya’s translation of the Pentateuch also reveals some parallels to tenth- and eleventh-century Karaite translations and it contains prominent Aramaic and Islamic vocabulary, unfamiliar in other versions of Saadya’s tafsīr.

Reviewed by Sophie Kessler-Mesguich, published in "Revue des études juives", 163 no. 3 - 4 Jul. - Dec. 2004, p 554-556.

This research aims at studying the Nabataean architectural terms throughout their inscriptions. It demonstrates the Nabataean inscriptions which contain architectural terms and expressions seeking to point out linguistic indications. This also compares the different architectural terms occurred in the Nabataean inscriptions to their cognates in other Semitic languages, and stab to link them with the monuments in which
the inscriptions were found and the existing ones. Moreover, the research reviews the historical and geographical distribution of such terms

- by Mahdi Alzoubi
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- Ancient History, Semitic languages, Ancient Near East, Nabataeans (Classics)

SCIENCE and EDUCATION a NEW DIMENSION PHILOLOGY Issue 159

The essay deals with the underground world in the Bible, taking into account especially poetic texts. Etymological analysis of the main underground words (šĕ’ôl, šaḥat, tĕhôm e mĕṣûlâ) intends to show the profound relationships between biblical texts and Near Ancient East literatures. The meaning of each term is sketched out from the biblical
contexts in which it occurs. The second part elaborates on Jon 2 and Prov, showing that cosmological language is metaphorically transposed into an anthropological and ethical sense. Cosmological depths thus become an abyss of distress, or a chasm of evil and sin.
The metaphorical dynamic, however, is not developed indiscriminately; rather, whereas some words remain mostly anchored to their cosmological sense, for others, the semantic shift happens more easily.

A complete edition of all known Latino (and Graeco)-Punic inscriptions along with a detailed, comparative grammatical analysis, esp. with regard to phonology and orthographic practice. Several texts are presented here for the first time. These texts from Roman-era Tripolitania (the first centuries A.D.) render Punic systematically, although written with Latin graphemes. Until now they have been largely neglected by Semiticists. They thus provide, among other things, fully vocalised material, unusual for alphabetically written Semitic languages, which can provide us with insight into the historical and diachronic development of the (North-West) Semitic languages, esp. biblical Hebrew. At the same time, these texts are also interesting epigraphic texts documenting the spread of the Punic language into the African interior.

- by Robert Martin Kerr
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- Philology, Historical Linguistics, Semitic languages, Phoenicians

The present article deals with the comparative method as applied to the Semitic cognate sets with phonological correspondences. It demonstrates how one with help of comparative Semitic approach and certain principles of analysis can establish a Proto-phoneme, how to reconstruct it and how to distinguish between true cognates and borrowed ones, illustrated through a set of case studies within the framework of phonological correspondences. For this task, historical linguistics prefer cognates from basic vocabulary (body parts, close kinship terms, and the like), since such terms are considered to resist borrowing more than other sorts of vocabulary. Applying this to the Semitic languages and looking for potential Semitic true cognates I have chosen cognate sets denoting body parts as the basic illustrative examples for my investigation, which in the course of discussion is widened to
include other illustrative examples.

Il corso online Filologia semitica: lingue del Medio Oriente è un'introduzione alla complessità culturale e linguistica del Medio Oriente. Attraverso un percorso a ritroso nel tempo e uno sguardo comparativo, descrive la distribuzione storica e geografica e alcune caratteristiche fondamentali-fonologiche e morfo-sintattiche-delle lingue semitiche.

- by Alessandro Mengozzi and +1
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- Semitic languages, Hebrew Language, Arabic Language and Linguistics, Comparative Semitic Linguistics

Translation of the Damascus Document from Wise-Abegg-Cook 2005.

- by Holger Gzella
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- Semitic languages, Aramaic Dialectology, Aramaic, Achaemenid Persia

SCIENCE and EDUCATION a NEW DIMENSION PHILOLOGY Issue 152

The Karatepe inscriptions contain an intriguing image of a woman walking fearlessly with spindles. This image builds on the symbolism of the spindle in the ancient Near East as an emblem of femininity and highlights the gendered language of the passage in which it occurs. In the context, the figure of the woman with spindles is contraposed with the image of the fearful man. The contrast between them portrays the magnitude of the positive changes accomplished by Azitawada, the ruler who commissioned the inscriptions.

- by Krzysztof J. Baranowski
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- Gender Studies, Semitic languages, Anatolian Studies, Phoenicians
- by Reuven Chaim Klein
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- Languages, Languages and Linguistics, Historical Linguistics, Hebrew Language

Maydan is the first Italian journal of studies on the Arab, Semitic and Islamic worlds run by PhD students and graduates, whose main purpose is to encourage the production of first research articles by young scholars. The journal revolves around a broad conception of the Arab, Semitic and Islamic worlds, which includes the geographical areas of the Middle-East, North Africa, the Sahel region, Caucasus, Central and South-East Asia. Maydan also invites submissions regarding the connections between these geographical areas and Europe, North America and other continents. The journal aims to explore the presence of the Arab, Semitic and Islamic Worlds outside the regions traditionally characterised as “Arab”; "Semitic" or “Islamic” and highlight differences within these worlds. Therefore, Maydan welcomes contributions focused on the connections between these areas and the globalised world’s political, economic, social, and cultural dynamics. In addition, the journal aims to support a critical reflection on the concept of Area Studies, problematising culturalist approaches that reproduce an essentialist and colonialist vision of the Arab, Semitic and Islamic Worlds. Maydan accepts contributions from master’s, post-graduate and PhD students. For any additional information, visit https://rivistamaydan.com or write to info.rivista@maydan.it.

- by Antonio Pacifico and +6
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- Islamic Law, Islamic Economics, Middle East Studies, Arabic Language and Linguistics

أ. د. شموئيل موريه من الجامعة العبرية في القدس يتحدث عن النص الكامل لكتاب تاريخ الجبرتي، عجائب الآثار في التراجم والأخبار.

PHONOLOGIE La graphie et la prononciation Pour dresser le système phonologique de la langue dédano-lihyânite, les spécialistes se sont appuyés sur des données indirectes, fournies par le sudarabique et l'arabe. Le premier présente des ressemblances graphiques, le second des similitudes linguistiques. La valeur donnée à chaque lettre est évidemment approximative. On sait que cette valeur, en arabe classique, résulte d'une longue évolution et la langue dédano-lihyânite se rapproche justement de l'arabe ancien. On a donc procédé par analogie, en extrapolant selon notre connaissance de l'évolution comparée des sons dans les langues sémitiques I54. L'écriture dédano-lihyânite ne possède pas de voyelle. Pour noter les voyelles longues finales, elle a recours aux maires lectionis Ihl, Iwl et lyl. La notation des voyelles médianes apparaît sporadiquement dans la graphie dédano-lihyânite, à une date difficile à établir 1SS. Quant aux voyelles brèves, on a tendance à les restituer par analogie avec l'arabe. Le système consonantique Le système phonologique dédano-lihyânite compte vingt-sept consonnes organisées en plusieurs catégories, selon Γ articulation de chacune : labiales, dentales, interdentales, sifflantes, prépalatales, postpalatales, vélaires, pharyngales et laryngales. Selon la manière d'articuler, elles sont sourdes ou sonores, emphatiques, nasales, latérales ou vibrantes 156. Le tableau qui suit appelle quelques remarques.-Contrairement au sudarabique qui possède trois sifflantes-s1 ή (proto-sémitique s), s2 î (proto-sémitique s), s3 8 (proto-sémitique s)-, le dédano-lihyânite ne possède que deux signes indépendants pour noter les sifflantes s1 et s2 : ή et $. Le premier est issu du 5 proto-sémitique et le second du έ proto-sémitique 157.

In this article I suggest that the Hebrew noun ḥq (law, portion, measure) and the verb ḥqq (carve, write) are etymologically unrelated homonyms. The noun, as well as a rare verb (Pro 8:15) and a rare participle (Pro 31:5), are from the root *ḥqq, and are cognate to the corresponding root in Arabic, South Arabian and Ethiopic languages. Other verbal and participle usages of ḥqq, as well as a rare noun (Jud 5:15, Isa 10:1) are from *ḫqq, which is cognate to the corresponding root in Aramaic and Phoenician and has a rare attestation in Arabic. This root belongs to a family of Semitic geminate roots with an initial ḫ that mean “using a tool to make a cavity in hard material”: ḫbb, ḫdd, ḫṭṭ, ḫll and ḫrr.

- by Itai Kagan
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- Semitic languages, Hebrew Language, Etymology, Comparative Semitic Linguistics

"This special issue of Comparative Literature Studies brings together talks, some extensively revised, others virtually unchanged, that were delivered at a conference entitled "What is Philology?" The gathering took place on Saturday,... more

- by Jan Ziolkowski
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- Philology, Philology, Languages, History
- by D.T. Potts
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- Assyrian archaeology, Assyrian Empire, Epigraphy, Arabian Peninsula
- by haerinck ernie
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- Near Eastern Archaeology, Persian Gulf archeology, Epigraphy, Semitic Philology

The Syriac Version of Ezra-Nehemiah seems to be based on an original Hebrew text that is partly different from the one transmitted in the Masoretic tradition. This study seeks explain how the Syriac translator understood the Hebrew text. After the introduction, the second chapter examines the manuscript traditions and provides a critical apparatus to the Syriac text. The following chapters investigate the translation technique and show the translator’s efforts to solve the difficulties in the original by offering a more coherent and clearer new text. The monograph also discusses questions concerning the translator and his community

- by claudio balzaretti
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- Translation Studies, Semitic languages, Bible Translation, Syriac Studies

The authors here inaugurate a series of “notes” on Phoenician epigraphy and philology. These are, for the most part, brief and punctual observations (of an epigraphic, philological or historical nature) resulting from their on-going study of various Phoenician inscriptions to be included in their planned “Manuel d’épigraphie phénicienne” (currently in preparation) which would have been out of place (owing to their technical nature) is such a pedagogical setting. This first fascicle concerns the Kition “trophy”, a recently published inscribed ostracon from Sidon, and an inscription from Tyre currently in the Louvre Museum.

- by Robert Hawley and +2
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- Cyprus Studies, Cyprus, Northwest Semitic Epigraphy, Morphology (Languages And Linguistics)

The present article discusses two rare Rabbinic Hebrew words denoting types of dried fruit: דמדמון in Yosef berabbi Nisan’s Seder for Qedushta הנני ממטיר, and קיטנים in Midrash Shir ha-Shirim Zutạ (according to MS St. Petersburg, Russian National Library, Ms. Antonin Ebr. III B 928). The etymology, morphology, and semantics of דמדמון and קיטנים are examined on the basis of the most probable lexical descendants of these words in Palestinian colloquial Arabic, viz. damdamūn and quṭṭēn respectively. The Palestinian Arabic word damdamūn ‘over-ripe grapes that are shriveled and dry by the time of the vintage season’ matches the Hebrew דמדמון both morphologically and semantically. The Palestinian Arabic word quṭṭēn ‘dried figs’ corresponds to the semantics of the unvocalised Hebrew קיטנים and suggests that it might be read as *qiṭṭēn (pl. qiṭṭǝnīm or qiṭṭēnīm), deriving from the Hebrew root קטן qtṇ.

- by Mila Neishtadt
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- Arabic Language and Linguistics, Aramaic, Arabic Dialects, Rabbinic Literature

The “Lexicon of Samaritan Hebrew According to the Samaritan Pentateuch Tradition” is a joint project of Moshe Florentin and Stefan Schorch. The project aims at the creation of a scholarly dictionary of the Samaritan Hebrew dialect which is attested in the Samaritan Pentateuch tradition. It will encompass the manuscripts of the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan oral reading tradition of the Pentateuch, and the early exegetical traditions within the Samaritan community as preserved in the Samaritan Targum, in the Samaritan Arabic translation, as well as in the traditional trilingual word-lists called Ham-Melitz.
The dictionary will feature a comprehensive etymological, morphological, and semantic analysis of each lexeme found in Samaritan Pentateuch based on close reading of the Samaritan versions and with cognizance of traditional Samaritan lexicography. Each entry will provide the following data:
1. Lemma; 2. Etymological cognates (including other traditions of Hebrew); 3. Attributed meaning in Samaritan literature (Targum, Arabic translation of the Torah); 4. Morphological inventory; 5. Determination of semantics (with exact references and contextual quotations); 6. Derivates.

- by Stefan Schorch / שטפן שורש and +1
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- Semitic languages, Hebrew Language, Comparative Semitic Linguistics, Hebrew Bible
- by Robert Martin Kerr
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- Phonology, Semitic languages, Phonetics, Phoenicians
- by Robert Martin Kerr
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- Islamic Law, Historical Linguistics, Semitic languages, History of Religion

La périodisation de l’histoire par l’Europe chrétienne comme par le monde musulman voit dans l’avènement de l’islam une rupture majeure. Cette notion de rupture se retrouve, dans une moindre mesure, dans la définition de nos champs disciplinaires : ne distingue-t-on pas l’archéologie islamique de l’archéologie de l’Orient hellénisé et romain ? L’histoire de l’Antiquité tardive de celle de l’islam ? Si cette distinction trouve sa justification dans l’usage d’une documentation spécifique et d’outils méthodologiques propres, elle contribue néanmoins à tracer une barrière entre deux périodes de l’histoire. Au regard de la documentation historique toutefois, cette barrière perd toute réalité. Si un déclin du peuplement de l’Arabie à la veille de l’islam a pu conditionner l’émergence et l’expansion d’une nouvelle civilisation, celle-ci est largement héritière des civilisations préislamiques de la péninsule. Dans les régions voisines, ce n’est pas un changement brutal des modes de vie qui s’observe, ni même une conversion massive à la nouvelle foi, mais nous constatons au contraire la poursuite d’évolutions engagées de longue date.
La réunion d’archéologues et d’historiens spécialistes de l’Antiquité tardive en péninsule Arabique, au Proche-Orient, dans la Corne de l’Afrique, en Perse et en Inde a permis d’interroger les sources documentaires lors d’une table ronde tenue à Paris en 2008. Cet ouvrage en publie les actes en s’interrogeant sur la réalité ou non d’un déclin des civilisations du Moyen-Orient et des régions voisines à la veille de l’islam et sur les ruptures et continuités qui se font jour.