Similarities Between Assyrian Aramaic and Hebrew

In today’s episode, we’ll be comparing some of the similarities between two Semitic languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, with Berta and Sidorie (Assyrian Neo-Aramaic speakers) and Hila and Noa (Hebrew speakers from Israel) challenging each other with a list of words and sentences. Hebrew and Aramaic have many similarities, which Hebrew being a Northwest Semitic language and the only living Canaanite language left in world, while Neo-Aramaic consists of several languages which are varieties of Aramaic. Among these, the Northeastern Neo-Aramaic and Central Neo-Aramaic dialects are spoken primarily, but not exclusively, by ethnic Assyrians, who are native to Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Turkey. Assyrians are among the Christian minorities in the Middle East, being members of the Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church (Eastern Rite Catholics), Syriac Orthodox Church, Ancient Church of the East, Assyrian Pentecostal Church and Assyrian Evangelical Church. Ancient Hebrew went extinct as a spoken language many centuries ago. However, it survived as a liturgical language for Judaism thanks to Jewish liturgy, rabbinic literature, intra-Jewish commerce, and other texts. For this reason, Hebrew is now considered the only truly successful example of a revived dead language. In the 19th century, it was revived as a spoken and literary language. Hebrew became the lingua franca of Palestine's Jews, and subsequently the official language of the State of Israel. After Israel, the United States has the second largest Hebrew-speaking population in the world.
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Shahrzad (@shahrzad.pe): / shahrzad.pe
Bahador (@BahadorAlast): / bahadoralast
My apologies for the few typos in the video. I would like to take a minute to address them.
In the video the words nefesh (נפש) and sakhah (שחה) were read, but I had written נְשָׁמָה and לשחות
as I had multiple terms. "len" (ܠܢ) in the first Assyrian Aramaic sentence is a vernacular contraction and should be spelt (ܠܐ ܝܘܢ). "reshakh" (ܪܫܟ̣) has a silent feminine yod at the end, so should be spelt (ܪܫܟ̣ܝ). Also, just to note, the word "shna" (ܫܢܐ) is the absolute state of the feminine noun meaning year - and that's more a feature of Biblical Aramaic and Classical Syriac. In modern Assyrian absolute state is only used in fossilized vocabulary borrowed from Classical Syriac, so it's practically never used. So in almost all cases, the emphatic state which is "sheta" (ܫܢ̄ܬܐ) in the singular, and "shinne" (ܫܢ̈ܐ) in the plural are used.

[@BahadorAlast]

My apologies for a couple of typos in the video. The words nefesh (נפש) and sakhah (שחה) were read, but I had written נְשָׁמָה and לשחות, as I had multiple terms on the paper. I made mistake when I was editing. In addition to that, "len" (ܠܢ) in the first Assyrian Aramaic sentence is a vernacular contraction and should be spelt (ܠܐ ܝܘܢ). Hope you enjoyed the video, and be sure to follow us on Instagram to vote for the next video you'd like to see:

[@dahliathereader2872]

We Semitic people (Arabs, Assyrians and Jews) have more in common than we do differences. As an Assyrian I feel very proud and honoured to have a special connection with the Hebrew language ❤️

[@marinae.3504]

I’m an Assyrian, and I absolutely love both languages. I’ve always wanted to learn Hebrew. Lots of love to my Jewish cousins xx

[@LawBooZ]

Hebrew and Assyrian Aramaic is two very ancient languages. You guys should be very proud that these languages are still alive and spoken by millions of people until today. Shlama/Shalom from Sweden!

[@user-xc1fq2qy8y]

I love Aramaic because it is the biblical language. Assyrian Church is teaching Aramaic and i am very happy for the people who get to use it.

[@ryannatuor344]

Im an Arabic muslim, i understand Hebrew, and love you all jewish brothers, and tbh, the Aramaic and Arabic are also very similar, like the similarity between Hebrew and Arabic.

[@Song-SsS]

wow i’m arabic and i almost understand their both language like 30% / and i love Hebrew language ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ashrafalsaadoon6120]

As an Arab I love Assyrians and Hebrews cousins

[@saramesochnik3271]

Shalom from Israel, my Assyrians sisters and brothers!

[@Liran45]

As an Israeli, it's warming my heart to see that heart closing.

[@Rosemont765]

The only way Assyrians will finally get there land back is with the help of Israel.... Our brothers and our freinds.😊😊😊

[@amirz8649]

From Persia (Iran) l send lots of love and hugs to this girls and this gentleman 💚🌼🍅

[@mordechaifogel6069]

As a Hebrew speaker and former student of Talmudic Aramaic this was really fascinating to watch and see the letter changes stump these native speakers!

[@wisergreener7394]

I'm really glad to see that you've included the Assyrians in your language comparison videos. The Assyrians, a tiny Middle East minority, are often overlooked. Beautiful languages! Beautiful people!

[@Growndweller]

I just played this for my Assyrian mum and she was in tears of happiness. Some names from her village near Urmia: Shmoovil (Shmuel), Rapka (Rebecca), M'nasseh (Manasseh), Ephrayim (Ephraim), Maryam (Miriam), Ablakham (Abraham), Dahvid (David). I am so interested in the Aramaic language's roots now. Thank you for this video! 🙂

[@josephhalevy6782]

I’m not sure that you guys know what you are really doing in this video. You are creating peace among brothers. Aramaic Arabic and Hebrew speaking brothers.

[@mohammedjelloo8023]

Arabic is very similar

[@grngal6156]

This was great!! Thanks for the video! Greetings from a Persian-Jew :)

[@yochai1987]

As someone who study the Jewish Talmud (which is in both Aramaic and Hebrew) I knew most of the words and it is interesting to mention that most Jews used to speak Aramaic as the the main language just before and through the beginning of the “Galut” (going exiled) religious Jews know a lot of Aramaic and we actually still use it in our every day prayer, for me to hear the “living” version of it with a young voice is really special! Thanks!

[@Dorito230]

This makes me smile so wide. WE ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS.