(Arabic version) The Western Neo-Aramaic language spoken in the Qalamun mountains north of Damascus has allegedly preserved some of the most archaic features of the Semitic languages. That a small community immersed in an Arabic speaking environment should be able to keep alive its ancient idiom is a fascinating phenomena, all the more so because the old Aramaic square script had fallen into disuse for the parent language centuries ago and no new script was adopted. In other words, an orally transmitted language was able to maintain itself in an environment that spoke a closely related language, which, moreover, had a beautiful, flexible writing system of its own.
To try to attribute this linguistic perseverance to the stubbornness of the Arameans would be, I think, a bit facetious. One of the essential prerequisites for any attempt to answer the questions about what characteristics of Western Neo-Aramaic contributed to its tenacity is certainly to have at least a working knowledge of the language. When Lambert Jungmann asked me to check out the feasibility of compiling an Aramaic-Arabic-English glossary, I also saw an opportunity to acquire such a working knowledge. Moreover, I was convinced that learning another closely-related Semitic language would also reinforce my efforts to master the Arabic language.
The primary target group for the glossary comprises the Aramaic native-speakers of Maloula and the neighbouring villages. Together with George Ruskallah's grammar textbook it could serve as one tool to impart the language to the coming generation, many of whom are voicing a growing interest in wanting to keep the language alive, as one hallmark of their identity as Syrian Arameans.
To make the glossary accessible to a wider public, English was chosen as the third working language. Thus at least the following different scripts are required:
Of the software currently available, only TeX and LaTeX provide the capabilities for high-quality typesetting using all of these scripts simultaneously.The Arabic text was written using the ArabTeX package developed by Professor Klaus Lagally of the University of Stuttgart. The IPA symbols and the special glyphs of the transcription system were written using the TIPA package developed by Mr Rei Fukui of the University of Tokyo.
Last but not least: constructive criticism will always be welcome!
Please send your comments, criticisms and suggestions( in English, French, German or Arabic )to:
Gerd-B. Mueller