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Copyright

Aharon Geva-Kleinberger;

Published On

2025-01-31

Page Range

pp. 109–134

Language

  • English

Print Length

26 pages

On the Arabic Dialect of the Jews of Qāmišli (North-East Syria)

  • Aharon Geva-Kleinberger (author)
Chapter of: Arabic in Context: Essays on Language, Dialects, and Culture in Honour of Martin R. Zammit(pp. 109–134)
This chapter explores the Arabic dialect of the Jewish community of Qāmišli, a town in northeastern Syria near the Turkish border. Originating largely from the city of Nuṣaybin, the Qāmišli Jewish dialect (QāJ) is a distinct member of the Qəltu Arabic group, sharing linguistic features with dialects of southern Turkey and northern Iraq. The research draws on fieldwork, including interviews with informants who emigrated to Israel, to document the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical characteristics of QāJ.

The Qāmišli Jewish community, formed in the early 20th century, was shaped by waves of migration from Turkey, Iraq, and Kurdistan. The dialect reflects these influences, incorporating Hebrew vocabulary and showing traces of Turkish and Kurdish linguistic elements. Unlike other Syrian Jewish dialects, QāJ is socio-linguistically distinct, often looked down upon by the more prestigious Aleppo Jewish dialect. This distinction also reflects socio-economic disparities and the community's marginalization within Syrian Jewish society.

The chapter highlights unique phonological shifts, such as the irregular replacement of /r/ with /ġ/, and distinctive morphological patterns, including the preservation of certain suffixes found in Qəltu dialects. Additionally, the chapter documents cultural and linguistic practices, including unique Hebrew-Arabic hybrid usages and local Jewish customs.

Today, QāJ is nearly extinct, with most of its speakers residing in Israel and adopting Hebrew for daily communication. The study underscores the urgency of documenting such endangered dialects, as they offer valuable insights into the linguistic and cultural history of Jewish diasporas in the Levant

Contributors

Aharon Geva-Kleinberger

(author)
Full Professor in the Department of Hebrew Language at University of Haifa

Aharon Geva-Kleinberger is a Full Professor in the Department of Hebrew Language at the University of Haifa and a former Head of the Department of Arabic Language and Literature. A prominent dialectologist, his expertise lies in the study of Arabic dialects, particularly in the Levant, as well as Judaeo-Arabic and Modern Semitic languages, including Maltese and Aramaic. He earned his Ph.D. in Oriental Philology from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. Prof. Geva-Kleinberger's scholarly contributions include seminal works on the Arabic dialects of Haifa, Tiberias, and Galilee, along with studies on Jewish dialects from diverse regions such as Yemen, Syria, and the Far East. His interdisciplinary approach integrates linguistics with historical and anthropological insights, enriching the understanding of Semitic languages and their cultural contexts. He has held various academic leadership roles, including organizing international collaborations, such as between the University of Haifa and the University of Malta, and spearheading Arabic language programs. Beyond academia, he has contributed to public scholarship as a broadcaster and consultant on Semitic linguistic heritage. An active member of the Israel-Malta Chamber of Commerce and an editor for notable linguistic periodicals, Prof. Geva-Kleinberger continues to influence the fields of dialectology and Semitic studies through research, teaching, and community engagement.