In this article we will explore a wide range of ideas and concepts related to Ammonite language. From its origin to its current applications, Ammonite language has been a topic of interest and debate in various areas. We will analyze its importance in contemporary society, as well as its influence on the development of different disciplines. Through research and interviews with experts, we will seek to shed light on the most relevant aspects related to Ammonite language, providing our readers with a more complete and in-depth vision of this topic.
Ammonite | |
---|---|
Region | Formerly spoken in northwestern Jordan |
Extinct | 5th century BC |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | None (mis ) |
qgg | |
Glottolog | ammo1234 |
Ammonite is the extinct Canaanite language of the Ammonite people mentioned in the Bible, who used to live in modern-day Jordan, and after whom its capital Amman is named. Only fragments of their language survive—chiefly the 9th century BC Amman Citadel Inscription, the 7th–6th century BC Tel Siran bronze bottle, and a few ostraca. As far as can be determined from the small corpus, it was extremely similar to Biblical Hebrew, with some possible Aramaic influence including the use of the verb ‘bd (עבד) instead of the more common Biblical Hebrew ‘śh (עשה) for 'make'. The only other notable difference with Biblical Hebrew is the sporadic retention of feminine singular -t (’šħt 'cistern', but ‘lyh 'high '.) Ammonite also appears to have possessed largely typical correspondences of diphthongs, with words such as ywmt (יומת *yawmōt, 'days') both preserving /aw/ and showing a shift to /o/, and other words such as yn (ין 'wine') exhibiting a shift of /ay/ to ē (yēn < *yayn) much like Hebrew.
It was first described as a separate language in 1970 by Italian Orientalist Giovanni Garbini. Subsequently, a number of inscriptions previously identified as Hebrew, Phoenician, or Aramaic were reclassified, as a result of consensus around the similarity of the Amman Theatre Inscription, Amman Citadel Inscription, Tell Siren Bottle, Heshbon Ostraca, and Tell el-Mazer Ostraca.