Cover not available
Article published In:
Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 39:2/3 (2012) ► pp.327–340

The Native Syriac Linguistic Tradition

Resources Ancient and Modern

| Jersey City, N.J.
The native Syriac linguistic tradition comprises annotations to the biblical text (‘masorah’), lexica, and grammars created between the 6th and 13th centuries; 24 Syriac scholars are known by name. Syriac grammarians have been considered to be mere imitators, of both Greek and Arab grammarians, but this is a severe exaggeration; they were, however, the source of much that is found among the Arabs. The first, Jacob of Edessa (640–708 A.D.), and the last, Gregory Bar Hebraeus (1225/26–1286), have received the most attention. Much needs to be done, both in publishing and evaluating Syriac linguistic work, and in recognizing its importance in cross-connecting the West Asian civilizations and in foreshadowing modern approaches to language. This article provides a guide and key to the literature.
Published online: 23 November 2012
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.39.2-3.07dan
References (97)
References
Aronoff, Mark. 1985. “Orthography and Linguistic Theory: The syntactic basis of Masoretic Hebrew punctuation”. Language 611.28–72. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Assemani, Joseph Simon. 1719–28. Bibliotheca orientalis Clementina-vaticana. 41 vols. Rome: Sacrae Congregationis de Propaganda Fide.Google Scholar
Baethgen, Friedrich. 1880. ܣܘܪܝܝܐ ܡܡܠܐܠ ܬܘܪܨ oder Syrische Grammatik des Mar Elias von Tirhan. Leipzig: Hinrichs.Google Scholar
. 1881. Review of Hoffmann (1880). Göttingische Gelehrte Anzeigen, 915–921.Google Scholar
Balzaretti, Claudio. 1997. “Ancient Treatises on Syriac Homonyms”. Oriens Christianus 811.73–81.Google Scholar
Baumstark, Anton. 1922. Geschichte der syrischen Literatur. Bonn: Marcus & Weber.Google Scholar
Bergsträßer, Gotthelf. 1983. Introduction to the Semitic Languages: Text specimens and grammatical sketches. Translated with notes and bibliography and an appendix on the scripts by Peter T. Daniels. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns. [German original, 1928.]Google Scholar
Bertaina, David. 2011. “Science, Syntax, and Superiority in Eleventh-Century Christian–Muslim Discussion: Elias of Nisibis on the Arabic and Syriac languages”. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations 221.197–207. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bertheau, Ernestus. 1843. Gregorii bar Hebraei qui et Abulpharag Grammatica linguae syriacae in metro Ephraemo. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.Google Scholar
Bohas, Georges. 2003a. “Les accidents du verbe dans la grammaire de Bar Zu‘bi ou: une adaptation de la Techné”. Langues et Littératures du Monde Arabe 41.54–86.Google Scholar
. 2003b. “Radical ou racine/schème? L’organisation de la conjugaison syriaque, avant l’adoption de la racine”. Le Muséon 1161.343–376. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
. 2004. “Sur l’hypothèse de la racine triconsonantique en syriaque”. Langues et Littératures du Monde Arabe 51.135–158.Google Scholar
. 2005. Les bgdkpt en syriaque selon Bar Zo‘bi. Toulouse: Amam-Cernaa.Google Scholar
Brock, Sebastian. 2003. “Syriac Lexicography: Reflections on resources and sources.” Aramaic Studies 11.165–178. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Brockelmann, Carl. 1928. Lexicon syriacum. 2nd ed. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer.Google Scholar
. 1960. Syrische Grammatik. Rev. ed. Leipzig: VEB Verlag Enzyklopädie. (1st ed., 1889.)Google Scholar
Coakley, J. F. 2002. Robinson’s Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Contini, Riccardo. 1998. “Considerazioni interlinguistiche sull’ adattamento siriaco della Τεχνη γραμματικη di Dionisio Trace”. La diffusione dell’ eredità classica nell’ età tardoantica e medievale: Il “Romanzo di Alexandro” ed altri scritti ed. by R. B. Finazzi & A. Valvo, 95–111. Alexandria: Edizioni dell’ Orso.Google Scholar
. 2000. “The Role of Linguistics in Syrian Society”. History of the Language Sciences: An international handbook on the evolution of the study of language from the beginnings to the present ed. by Sylvain Auroux, E. F. K. Koerner, Hans-Josef Niederehe, & Kees Versteegh, 341–344. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Google Scholar
[Cureton, William]. 1845. “British Museum – MSS. from the Egyptian Monasteries”. Quarterly Review 77, no. 153 (December), 39–69.Google Scholar
Daniels, Peter T. 1976. “S-----x and the Single Manuscript, the Joy of Philology, and Linguistic Morality (Evidence for syntactic change in Syriac)”. Papers from the Parasession on Diachronic Syntax, April 22, 1976 ed. by Sanford B. Steever, Carol A. Walker & Salikoko S. Mufwene, 69–78. Chicago: Chicago Linguistic Society.Google Scholar
2004. Review of Thackston (1999). Language 801.637–638. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
In press. “Arabic Writing.” Oxford Handbook of Arabic Linguistics ed. by Jonathan Owens. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Duval, Rubens. 1881. Traité de grammaire syriaque. Paris: Vieweg.Google Scholar
. 1888–1901. Lexicon syriacum auctore Hassano Bar Bahlule. 31 vols. Paris: Leroux (Imprimerie Nationale).Google Scholar
. 1907. La littérature syriaque. Paris: Gabalda.Google Scholar
Ewald, Heinrich. 1832. “Ueber das syrische Punctationssystem, nach syrischen Handschriften”. Abhandlungen zur orientalischen und biblischen Literatur, 53–129. Göttingen: Dieterich.Google Scholar
. 1837. “Weitre Erläuterungen der syrischen Punctation, aus syrischen Handschriften”. Zeitschrift für die Kunde des Morgenlandes 11.204–212.Google Scholar
Faber, Alice. 1992. “Phonemic Segmentation as Epiphenomenon: Evidence from the history of alphabetic writing”. The Linguistics of Literacy ed. by Pamela Downing, Susan B. Lima, & Michael Noonan, 111–134. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Farina, Margherita. 2008. “Diathesis and Middle Voice in the Syriac Ancient Grammatical Tradition: The translations and adaptations of the Techné Grammatiké and the Arabic Model”. Aramaic Studies 61.175–193. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Gaunt, David. 2006. Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim–Christian relations in eastern Anatolia during World War I. Piscataway, N.J.: Gorgias Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Goshen-Gottstein, Moshe H. 1970. A Syriac–English Glossary with Etymological Notes. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Gottheil, Richard J. H. 1887. ܣܘܪܝܝܐ ܬܘܪܨܡܡܠܐܠ A Treatise on Syriac Grammar by Mâr(i) Elia of Sôbʰâ. Berlin: Peiser.Google Scholar
1887–1888. “A Tract on the Syriac Conjunctions”. Hebraica 41.167–178.Google Scholar
1888–1889. “A Syriac Lexicographical Tract”. Hebraica 51.215–229. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1893. “Dawidh bar Paulos, a Syriac Grammarian”. Journal of the American Oriental Society 151.cxi–cxviii.Google Scholar
Gray, Louis H. 1934. Introduction to Semitic Comparative Linguistics. New York: Columbia University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
GSL, see Baumstark (1922) above.
Hatch, William Henry Paine. 1946. An Album of Dated Syriac Manuscripts. Boston: American Academy of Arts and Sciences.Google Scholar
Hoffmann, Georgius. 1880. Opuscula Nestoriana syriaca. Kiel: Maack.Google Scholar
Illch, Abraham. 1885. Berichtigungen und Zusätze zum fünften Kapitel der bar hebräischen kleinen Grammatik auf Grund des Textes von Abbé Martin (Paris 1872) nebst Einleitung. Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung der Doctorwürde. Leipzig: Drugulin.Google Scholar
Klugkist, A. C. 1982. “Midden-aramese schriften in Syrië, Mesopotamië, Perzië en aangrenzende gebieden”. Doctoral dissertation, Rijksuniversiteit te Groningen.Google Scholar
Loprieno, Antonio. 1995. Ancient Egyptian: A linguistic introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Martin, l’Abbé Paulin. 1869a. Jacobi Edesseni epistola ad Georgium episcopum Sarugensem. Paris: Klincksieck.Google Scholar
Martin, Paulin. 1869b. “Jacques d’Édesse et les voyelles syriennes”. Journal Asiatique ser. 6, vol. 131.447–482.Google Scholar
. 1869c. “Tradition karkaphienne, ou la massore chez les Syriens”. Journal Asiatique ser. 6 vol. 141.245–379, pls. 1–19.Google Scholar
. 1872a. Œuvres grammaticales d’Abou ‘lfaradj dit Bar Hebreus. 21 vols. Paris: Adrien Maisonneuve.Google Scholar
. 1872b. Review of works by William Wright. Journal Asiatique ser. 6, vol. 201.232–256.Google Scholar
. 1872c. “Syriens orientaux et occidentaux : Essai sur les deux principaux dialectes araméens”. Journal Asiatique ser. 6, vol. 191.305–488, pls. 1–20.Google Scholar
. 1875. “Histoire de la ponctuation ou de la massore chez les Syriens”. Journal Asiatique ser. 7 vol. 51.81–208, pls. 1–6.Google Scholar
Merx, Adalbertus. 1883. “Addenda et corrigenda in quibus insunt Syrii interpretis lectiones”. Dionysii Thracis ars grammatica by Gustavus Uhlig, lxxv–c. Leipzig: B. G. Teubner.Google Scholar
. 1889. Historia artis grammaticae apud Syros. (= Abhandlungen für die Kunde des Morgenlandes, 9/2.). Leipzig: Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft.Google Scholar
Metzger, Bruce. 1977. The Early Versions of the New Testament: Their origin, transmission, and limitations. New York: Oxford University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Mingana, Alphonse. 1933. Catalogue of the Mingana Collection of Manuscripts now in the possession of the Trustees of the Woodbrooke Settlement, Selly Oak, Birmingham, vol. I1: Syriac and Garshūni Manuscripts. Cambridge: Heffer.Google Scholar
Moberg, Axel. 1906. “Über den griechischen Ursprung der syrischen Akzentuation”. Le Monde Oriental 11.87–100.Google Scholar
. 1907. Buch der Strahlen: Die grössere Grammatik des Barhebräus, Übersetzung nach einem kritisch berichtigten Texte mit textkritischem Apparat und einem Anhang, zur Terminologie, vol. II1: Einleitung und zweiter Teil [Traktat IV]; Anhang, Zur Terminologie. Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
. 1909. “Die syrische Grammatik des Johannes Esṭōnājā”. Le Monde Oriental 31.24–33.Google Scholar
. 1913. Buch der Strahlen: Die grössere Grammatik des Barhebräus, Übersetzung nach einem kritisch berichtigten Texte mit textkritischem Apparat und einem Anhang, zur Terminologie, vol. I1: Erster Teil: Einleitung. Traktat I–III. Leipzig: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
. 1922. Le livre des splendeurs : La grande grammaire de Grégoire Barhebraeus, texte syriaque. Lund: Gleerup.Google Scholar
Muraoka, Takamitsu. 2005. Classical Syriac: A basic grammar with a chrestomathy. 2nd ed. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Nestle, Eberhard. 1876. “Zur Geschichte der syrischen Punctation”. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 301.525–533.Google Scholar
. 1889. Syriac Grammar with Bibliography, Chrestomathy and Glossary. 2nd ed. Translated by Archd R. S. Kennedy. Berlin: Reuther.Google Scholar
Nöldeke, Theodor. 1870. Review of Martin (1869c). Göttingische Gelehrte Anzeigen 1870. 1311–1319.Google Scholar
. 1871a. Review of Wright (1870–1871). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 251.266–272, 513–519.Google Scholar
. 1871b. Review of Fragments of the ܢܗܪܝܐ ܡܡܠܐܠ ܬܘܪܨ or Syriac Grammar of Jacob of Edessa, by William Wright. Göttingische Gelehrte Anzeigen, 1871.1736–1742.Google Scholar
. 1872. Review of Martin (1872a). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 261.828–835.Google Scholar
. 1873. Review of Wright (1873). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 271.195–201.Google Scholar
. 1880. Review of Baethgen (1880). Göttingische Gelehrte Anzeigen 1880. 721–734.Google Scholar
. 1881. Review of Hoffmann (1881). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 351.491–501.Google Scholar
. 1887. Review of Gottheil (1887). Literarisches Centralblatt 1887.1767–1769.Google Scholar
. 1890. Review of Merx (1890). Literarisches Centralblatt 1890.1215–1220.Google Scholar
. 1904. Compendious Syriac Grammar. 2nd ed. translated by James A. Crichton. London: Williams & Norgate. [German original 1898, 1st ed. 1880. Repr., with the handwritten annotations in Theodor Nöldeke’s personal copy ed. by Anton Schall and translated by Peter T. Daniels (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2001.)]Google Scholar
Phillips, George. 1869. A Letter of Mār Jacob, Bishop of Edessa, on Syriac Orthography; also a Tract by the Same Author, and a Discourse by Gregory bar Hebræus on Syriac Accents. London: Williams & Norgate.Google Scholar
Praetorius, Franz. 1901. Über die Herkunft der hebräischen Accente. Berlin: Reuther & Reichard.Google Scholar
Revell, E. J. 1972. “The Grammar of Jacob of Edessa and the Other Near Eastern Grammatical Traditions”. Parole de l’Orient 31.365–374.Google Scholar
Rosenthal, Franz, ed. 1967. An Aramaic Handbook. 21 vols. in 41 parts. (= Porta Linguarum Orientalium, N.S. 10.) Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Sáenz-Badillos, Angel. 1993. A History of the Hebrew Language. Transl. by John Elwolde. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Samir, Khalil. 1975/1976. “Deux cultures qui s’affrontent: Une controverse sur l’i‘rab au XIe siècle entre Élie de Nisibe et le vizir Abū l-Qāsim”. Mélanges de l’Université Saint Joseph 491.617–649. Damascus.Google Scholar
Samir, Samir Khalil. 1991/1992. “Langue arabe, logique et théologie chez Élie de Nisibe”. Mélanges de l’Université de Saint-Joseph 521.229–367. Damascus.Google Scholar
Scher, Addai. 1905. Catalogue de Mss. syriaques et arabes conservés dans la Bibliothèque épiscopale de Séert. Mosul: Impr. des PP. Dominicains.Google Scholar
Segal, J[udah] B[enzion]. 1953. The Diacritical Point and Accents in Syriac. (= London Oriental Series, 2.) London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Segal, J. B. 1989. “Quššaya and Rukkak_a: A historical introduction”. Journal of Semitic Studies 341.483–491. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Semaan, Khalil I. 1968. Linguistics in the Middle Ages: Phonetic studies in early Islam. Leiden: E. J. Brill.Google Scholar
Shimron, Joseph, ed. 2003. Language Processing and Acquisition in Languages of Semitic, Rootbased, Morphology. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Sokoloff, Michael. 2009. A Syriac Lexicon: A translation from the Latin, correction, expansion, and update of C. Brockelmann’s Lexicon syriacum. Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns; Piscataway, N.J.: Gorgias Press. (Corrected reprint, 2011.)Google Scholar
Talmon, Rafael. 2000. “Foreign Influence in the Syriac Grammatical Tradition”. History of the Language Sciences: An international handbook on the evolution of the study of language from the beginnings to the present ed. by Sylvain Auroux, E. F. K. Koerner, Hans-Josef Niederehe, & Kees Versteegh, 337–341. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.Google Scholar
. 2008. “Jacob of Edessa the Grammarian”. Jacob of Edessa and the Syriac Culture of His Day ed. by Bas ter Haar Romeny, 159–187. Leiden: E. J. Brill. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Thackston, Wheeler M. 1999. Introduction to Syriac: An elementary grammar with readings from Syriac literature. Bethesda, Md.: Ibex.Google Scholar
Uhlig, Gustavus. 1883. Dionysii Thracis ars grammatica. Leipzig: B. G Teubner.Google Scholar
Versteegh, C. H. M. [Kees]. 1989. “A Sociological View of the Arabic Grammatical Tradition: Grammarians and their professions”. Studia linguistica et orientalia memoriae Haim Blanc dedicata ed. by Paul Wexler, Alexander Borg & Sasson Somekh, 289–302. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Versteegh, C. H. M. 1993. Arabic Grammar and Qur’ānic Exegesis in Early Islam. Leiden: E. J. Brill. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Versteegh, Kees. 1997. The Arabic Language. New York: Columbia University Press.Google Scholar
Voigt, Rainer. 1997. “Das Vokalsystem des Syrischen nach Barhebraeus”. Oriens Christianus 811.36–72.Google Scholar
Vööbus, Arthur. 1954. Early Versions of the New Testament. Stockholm: Estonian Theological Society in Exile.Google Scholar
Weninger, Stefan. 1994. “Das ‘Übersetzungsbuch’ des Elias von Nisibis (10./11. Jh.) im Zusammenhang der syrischen und arabischen Lexikographie”. The World in a List of Words ed. by Werner Hüllen, 55–66. Tübingen: Max Niemeyer. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Wright, William. 1870–1873. Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum, Acquired since the Year 1838. 31 vols. London: Longmans.Google Scholar
. 1894. A Short History of Syriac Literature. Ed. by N[orman] M[cLean]. London: Black.Google Scholar
Cited by (1)

Cited by one other publication

[no author supplied]
2013. Current Bibliography of the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences, 2013. Isis 104:S1 ► pp. i ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 3 july 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.