Pat-El, N., Studies in the Historical Syntax of Aramaic: [Review]

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Abstract

The present book is a revised version of the author’s 2008 Harvard dissertation. It consists of three case studies united by a common approach and methodology: All three deal with historical syntax. As the author makes clear from the very start (the book opens with methodological remarks and only thereafter, on p. 7, introduces the reader to the subject), it is primarily in the realm of methodology that she wishes to contribute to the field. In particular, Pat-El seeks to bring together two disciplines that do not usually meet: historical syntax, with its grounding in general linguistics, and Aramaic studies, which is to a large extent a philological discipline. This is indeed a promising match, as will be obvious to anyone who reads through the status quaestionis at the beginning of the book. Studies on the syntax of Aramaic dialects are rare, and studies on the historical syntax of Aramaic are almost non-existent. Even for Semitic languages in general, such studies are hard to come by. On the other hand, Aramaic languages are attested over a period of 3,000 years and are therefore a potential gold mine for the historical linguist. [from the review]
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)135–142
Number of pages8
JournalAramaic Studies
Volume12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

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