12-27-2011, 06:56 PM
Shlama Akhi Ivan,
There are many dialects of Neo-Aramaic, some are closer to the ancient tongue than others. However, all of them have differences with the Classical tongue in some way or another.
The major difference with Neo-Aramaic dialects vs. Ancient Aramaic is with the way verbs are conjugated. The Neo-Aramaic dialects are much more simplified in this regard. In other words the verbs are the same, the way they are conjugated (for example, in number, person or state) can be different. For instance, in Neo-Aramaic, there is a present tense whereas the ancient tongue had only two tenses (past and future).
Neo-Aramaic speakers/writers find that the classical tongue is much more refined, rigid, and difficult. The modern dialects are more like slang.
There have always been people who can read, and even compose, in the ancient tongue, even today. However, they typically will have studied the differences between the two for years in order to be proficient.
+Shamasha
There are many dialects of Neo-Aramaic, some are closer to the ancient tongue than others. However, all of them have differences with the Classical tongue in some way or another.
The major difference with Neo-Aramaic dialects vs. Ancient Aramaic is with the way verbs are conjugated. The Neo-Aramaic dialects are much more simplified in this regard. In other words the verbs are the same, the way they are conjugated (for example, in number, person or state) can be different. For instance, in Neo-Aramaic, there is a present tense whereas the ancient tongue had only two tenses (past and future).
Neo-Aramaic speakers/writers find that the classical tongue is much more refined, rigid, and difficult. The modern dialects are more like slang.
There have always been people who can read, and even compose, in the ancient tongue, even today. However, they typically will have studied the differences between the two for years in order to be proficient.
+Shamasha