Akkadian Syllabary - Old Babylonian Signs - Consonant-Vowel Pattern [Cv]

This is an Akkadian syllabary chart using the Old Babylonian. The signs are given according to consonants and vowels. The system is similar to the Ethiopic fidel system as well as the Japanese kana system found in Hiragana and Katakana characters.

[@Amadeu.Macedo]

What a precious channel, Prof. Wingert! BRAVO!!! Nearly ten years ago, I fell in love with the four Mesopotamian civilizations (Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and, especially, the Assyrians). Unfortunately, this happened too late, for I am way too old, and lack the financial means to embark on such a wondrous project! If only I were thirty years younger, I would pursue a Master's degree in the Akkadian language alongside Mesopotamian History (with emphasis on the Neo-Assyrian Empire: 911-612/09 BCE). I am rather fond of the Sargonid dynasty, particularly Sennacherib and Assurbanipal. Looking forward to checking all your videos. Cheers!

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Thank you for the kind words! Akkadian is an especially remarkable language. One of my top 5 for sure!

[@obscuretongue5511]

This is worth watching over and over. What an excellent resource for learning to read cuneiform!

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

That is exactly the purpose in our class, to drill the cuneiform signs until we can read them. Reading Akkadian is hard, but not as hard as people might imagine.

[@katathoombz]

I've been wondering about the "sibilants of Akkadian through the ages". I've come across the notion of the reëvaluation of the pronunciation of s, š and ṣ in OB. Apparently it's based on some new reading of the evidence, but I couldn't say by whom or of what. Would you be able to enlighten us on this? Also I wondered after my colloquial NA course if the NA pronunciation of /š/ were closer to an /ś/ / /ɬ/, as it likes to become an /l/ before a dental.

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

I may publish a paper on the matter. I believe NA is probably more like /s/ given what we know of the area's dialect geography.

[@katathoombz]

@@ProfessorMichaelWingert then I'll look forward to it!

[@ellobosolitario19]

Great video, thanks a lot. Is there a difference between akkadian signs areas Babylon and Assyrian?

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Yes, there are differences in regions and periods. The signs develop significantly over time, but I don't know if we should consider Babylonian one way and Assyrian another. The development of signs, while it can be regional, often correlates to the period. So the Old Babylonian signs that we're learning here are basically the same as the way these signs are written in Sumerian. This is also the lapidary form as opposed to the smaller tablet cursive.

[@ellobosolitario19]

@@ProfessorMichaelWingert thanks

[@BiaCampo-k3g]

O babilônico era escrito da direita para a esquerda ou da esquerda para a direita ?

[@imeterowicz4194]

good video :) What is the difference between the Neo-Assyrian cuneiform to the Akkadian cuneiform?

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Neo-Assyrian is the Akkadian cuneiform of the Neo-Assyrian period. It is an evolved form of the earlier style that we see in the Old Babylonian (which is effectively the same as Sumerian). Think of the Neo-Assyrian signs as the cursive form of Akkadian.

[@imeterowicz4194]

@@ProfessorMichaelWingert Oh, thank you. That is interesting. When i search for an Akkadian sign on wikipedia, it shows to me the Neo-Assyrian form of that same sign. I'd like to learn Akkadian. How can i find Akkadian texts to practice my reading?

[@animaerapstarark76]

Hey there, i am actually Assyrian ( Ashuraya ). This is my old language. I wanted to ask, is it possible for my people to re-learn this ? we currently speak aramaic, is there a possible chance we can replace Aramaic with Akkadian ?

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

Shlama Ashuraya-jan. You ask, "is it possible?" Well, of course! I always encourage continual learning and mastery of difficult topics. But realistically, I do not believe it is probably nor practical to replace Sureth with Akkadian. As wonderful as Akkadian is, it is difficult to utilize and would require a society immersed in it to make it useable. Since most Suraye are in the diaspora now, even Sureth is under thread of extinction. But I'm more hopeful for Sureth.

[@陈天雄-i6w]

so the ayin in akkadian dropped even earlier than the OB, when did that happen?

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

It is hard to say when it was dropped or repurposed as an e-class vowel. The problem is that Sumerian cuneiform has no way to write the ayin.

[@陈天雄-i6w]

oh, I see. So how was the alif sound written in cuneiform if it was expressed@@ProfessorMichaelWingert

[@ProfessorMichaelWingert]

It is just written with the vowel that would accompany it. There are a few exceptions, but generally the guttural sounds are not found in Sumerian writing (with the exception of the hooked-h).@@陈天雄-i6w

[@陈天雄-i6w]

@@ProfessorMichaelWingert thanks for the answer