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If LEBANESE Language Is Not ARABIC Then Is It ARAMAIC?
#1
How was the Lebanese Language developed?
The Lebanese language currently spoken was developed from its parent Semitic language Aramaic. Aramaic was spoken in the whole region until about 900 AD. Later, the people in Lebanon were speaking several dialects of Aramaic especially in the mountains and North Lebanon while some Arabic dialects were introduced in some costal cities.

Eventually, the people of Lebanon blended their Aramaic with Arabic. From the 17 th to 20 th centuries, some of the Turkish language was incorporated. The Lebanese language kept developing until these days where some French and English were introduced in the past century.

Some scholars go further back to the Canaanite (Phoenician) language that the inhabitants of the region spoke before Aramaic, which has common words with Aramaic, Arabic and Hebrew.

How does Lebanese language differ from Arabic language? Arabic and Lebanese are both of Semitic roots. They have many common words and grammar, just as Spanish and Italian have in common. However, if people learn Arabic they will not be able to speak Lebanese and visa versa. Although some people refer to Lebanese as Lebanese-Arabic due to the Arabic mix in it, Lebanese and Arabic are two different languages. Despite the fact that almost half of the words used in Lebanese are from Arabic origin, they were reshaped and developed through several centuries.

How does Lebanese language differ from Aramaic language?
The Aramaic language gave words and structure to Lebanese, as will as it gave to other Semitic languages, such as Arabic and Hebrew. Many Lebanese words and grammar trace their roots into Aramaic. Although some people refer to Lebanese as Neo-Aramaic referring to its roots, they are two different languages. Except for some Aramaic words that are used in Lebanese language as-is, many Aramaic words were reshaped and developed through several centuries.

Read the whole article here : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.abcleb.com/lebanese/faq.htm">http://www.abcleb.com/lebanese/faq.htm</a><!-- m -->



The Importance of Distinguishing Lebanese Language from Arabic Language

Abstract:

It is a common practice for people to use ???Arabic language??? terminology to identify all of the Semitic languages of the Middle East that use Arabic letters for writing. The Lebanese who were raised in Lebanon master both the Lebanese language and the Arabic Language. Refraining from distinguishing between the two languages has begun to have negative effects on people who want to learn Lebanese in Diaspora. The only way to speak Lebanese is to learn the ???Lebanese Language???. Learning Arabic will not allow people to speak or understand Lebanese, on the contrary if you try to Learn Arabic before you can speak Lebanese, it may make Lebanese seem tougher to learn. Furthermore, calling both of the languages Arabic would confuse those outside Lebanon. They will think that we speak Arabic in Lebanon, and they will be driven to learn the Arabic language. Eventually, when they go to Lebanon they will not understand what the Lebanese speak nor what they broadcast on Lebanese television and radio.



Lebanese is a Semitic language that was derived from the Aramaic language. Aramaic replaced the Canaanite language that was spoken by the Phoenicians in the region until around the days of Jesus Christ. Aramaic was spoken in the whole region until about 900 AD. Later, the people in Lebanon were speaking several dialects of Aramaic especially in the mountains of Lebanon. Syriac-Aramaic was the dominant dialect in the mountains and North Lebanon, while some Arabic dialects were spoken in some costal cities and South Lebanon by the 13 th century. By the 17 th Century, a large population had moved from the Lebanese mountains to the costal cities. The people of Lebanon blended their Aramaic with Arabic utilizing Arabic words in their spoken Aramaic, and from the 17 th to 20 th centuries, some of the Turkish language was incorporated. The Lebanese language kept developing and some French was introduced in the 20 th century. During the past couple decades, some English terms became part of the Lebanese daily conversation.


Calling Lebanese a dialect of Arabic is another dilemma that would hurt the intention of teaching Lebanese in Diaspora. The people of Lebanon may have spoken dialects of Arabic at some costal cities a thousand years ago, but the language spoken now in Lebanon is much more different considering the Aramaic mix and the Turkish influence, not to forget the several centuries of development. In other words, if people learned Arabic a thousand years ago, they would have been able to communicate with some people in Lebanon that time. If people learn Arabic now, they will not be able to communicate with the people in Lebanon today.

The whole article can be found here : <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.abcleb.com/lebanese/article.htm">http://www.abcleb.com/lebanese/article.htm</a><!-- m -->

Can take a look at the list of Lebanese Americans in Entertainment & Sports here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.lgic.org/en/lebam_fulllist.php">http://www.lgic.org/en/lebam_fulllist.php</a><!-- m -->

Among them are Paul Anka, Casey Casem, Neil Sedaka, & Tiffany. I wonder whether is there anyone out there compiling a list of popular Assyrian American. <!-- s:xmas: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/xmas.gif" alt=":xmas:" title="Xmas" /><!-- s:xmas: -->
One of the first owners of the facsimile of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0802837867/ref=nosim/ultimyourulti-20"><b>Codex Leningrad</b></a>
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