PP Soon: History of Aramaic - Holger Gzella

https://www.logos.com/product/196136/aramaic-a-history-of-the-first-world-language

... is shipping later this month. If you click on Gzella's name (product page), you'll see him showing up in some well regarded academic-level resources. Another of his books centerred on aramaic culture. The PP price isn't particularly attractive, but still cheaper than Amazon-Kindle, and oh so much Logos tagging.

For broad-brush info, if not knowlegable, aramaic begins about Abraham's time, and is in full-swing (empire language) by the time the Persians are partying. Even with Alexander's greek, aramaic held strong ... most of the Dead Sea Scrolls are in aramaic (non-Biblical). In theory, Jesus would be conversant in its way of thinking at the time.

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Comments

DMB

Just for future searchers, this volume shipped and to be gracious, it's an introductory tome ... large amounts of generalizing, and speculating. Little in the way of specific detail. I used (per the Customer Service rep) my 'once in a life time' opportunity to request a refund (given the price).

HJ. van der Wal

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1168940#Comment_1168940

Shlomo / Shlama!

to be gracious, it's an introductory tome ...

I am sorry to hear of your disappointment. Were you expecting something more like Gzella's "A Cultural History of Aramaic" (2015)?

The book that has just shipped in Logos is aimed at a large, general audience (without any specialist knowledge). This does not mean that it is just a trimmed down version of the 2015 volume. Both books complement each other. The idea for the popular book came when "A Cultural History of Aramaic" was reviewed in one of the broadsheet newspapers in the Netherlands.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1169028#Comment_1169028

aimed at a large, general audience (without any specialist knowledge)

I believe you're correct. I'm just now learning how to read: "accessible overview of the language". I know I'm being picky, but Tawil's Hebrew/Akkadian had more useful info on 'accessible' Akkadian in the back-of-book summary and maybe 10 pages. Maybe FL needed a filler volume for aramaic ... I guess I'm wondering who would want this volume (that sounds terrible).

But I was surprised about FL's 'once in a life time refund policy'. Maybe students 'check-out' books using buy/refund multiple times.

Veli Voipio

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1169037#Comment_1169037

I have not started to read it, but as I see it, it is useful.

I am wondering how deep https://www.logos.com/product/55687/encyclopedia-of-hebrew-language-and-linguistics will go, I guess it will have an article about Aramaic.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1169044#Comment_1169044

I have not started to read it, but as I see it, it is useful.

Well, I wish you goodspeed. I kept reading half a chapter, then hoping the next would get better. This doesn't reflect on the good professor. It's just that there's a lot of thin ancient information, that only works with hefty discussion/samples.

Regarding the encyclopedia, I doubt the Brill prepubs have much of a future (in Logos). Mr Paul's argument about Brill reducing prices for more volume hasn't worked yet!

Veli Voipio

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1169046#Comment_1169046

Well, I finished reading it, while enjoying the hot summer in the log cabin as a hillbilly.

I can agree it is introductory, perhaps also wordy, but it was the right thing for me: filled gaps and provided a good overview on the subject.

It is also interesting to get a linguistic view of the regional history.

The reader may also have some fun, on page 146: "The supposed, not really recoverable original Aramaic formulations of sayings of Jesus may be highly valued in popular culture (as with the many, generally denied requests to the present author to fabricate them for tattoos and the like), but this is completely baseless.". Well - should I consider an Aramaic tattoo, the friends could see it in the sauna, and I could think that I am a better theologian than others [:|]

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1172539#Comment_1172539

Congratulations! I vote for the (temporary) tattoo! Ha.