Ethnologue 14 report for language code:SYC

SYRIAC: a n extinct language of Turkey (Asia)

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: SYC

ISO 639-2: syr

Region

Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. Also spoken in Iraq, Syria.

Alternate names

CLASSICAL SYRIAC, ANCIENT SYRIAC, SURYAYA, SURYOYO, LISHANA ATIGA

Dialects

WESTERN SYRIAC, EASTERN SYRIAC.

Classification

Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern.

Comments

The Syrian churches (Eastern (Nestorian), Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite), Syrian Catholic (Melkite, Maronite) developed a vast literature based on the Edessa (currently Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey) variety of the Syrian dialect. The Assyrian group (see Assyrian Neo-Aramaic in Iraq and elsewhere) separated denominationally from the Chaldean (see Chaldean Neo-Aramaic in Iraq) and Jacobite (see Turoyo in Turkey and Syria) in the Middle Ages. Neo-Eastern Aramaic languages spoken by Christians are often dubbed 'Neo-Syriac', although not directly descended from Syriac. Became extinct in the 10th to 12th centuries. Still used as a literary secular language among followers of the churches listed, although rarely. Christian: Nestorian, Jacobite, Melkite, Maronite, Syrian Orthodox. Extinct. Bible 1645-1891.

Also spoken in:

Syria

Language name	SYRIAC
Alternate names	CLASSICAL SYRIAC, ANCIENT SYRIAC, SURYAYA, SURYOYO
Dialects	WESTERN SYRIAC, EASTERN SYRIAC.
Comments	The Syrian churches (Eastern (Nestorian), Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite), Syrian Catholic (Melkite, Maronite) developed a vast literature based on the Edessa (currently Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey) variety of the Syrian dialect. The Assyrian group (see Assyrian Neo-Aramaic in Iraq and elsewhere) separated denominationally from the Chaldean (see Chaldean Neo-Aramaic in Iraq) and Suryoyo (see Turkey and Syria) in the Middle Ages. Became extinct in the 10th to 12th centuries. Still used as a literary secular language among followers of the churches listed, although rarely. Neo-Eastern Aramaic languages spoken by Christians are often dubbed 'Neo-Syriac', although not directly descended from Syriac. Christian: Nestorian, Jacobite, Melkite, Maronite, Syrian Orthodox. Extinct. Bible 1645-1891. See main entry under Turkey.