Arabic and Its Role in Egyptology and Egyptian Archaeology

Journal of the World Archaeological Congress ^ | April 17, 2008 | Nicole B. Hansen

[SunkenCiv]

Their lack of Arabic skills limits non-Egyptian Egyptologists in their ability to gain insights into Egyptian culture. The overwhelming reliance on European languages in the field limits the contributions that Egyptian Egyptologists are able to make to the field. The effects of these factors are discussed and suggestions are made as to how the situation can be ameliorated... Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology have been historically dominated by the use of three languages: English, French and German. Any scholar who wishes to make a serious career in the field must develop at least a reading knowledge of these three languages, in addition to learning the five stages of the ancient language. It does not hurt to be able to read some Dutch and Italian as well. Alas, Arabic, the language of modern Egypt, has never been a requirement, even though most field archaeologists pick up at least a rudimentary ability to speak colloquial Arabic with their Egyptian colleagues and workers.

[SunkenCiv]

This just showed up in today's search, can't recall if it was directly or indirectly, but I think it was the former.

[SunkenCiv]

She appears to be associated with the late wacko, “Omm Sety”.
http://glyphdoctors.com/

dissertation:

Continuity and Change of Reproductive Beliefs and Practices
in Egypt from Ancient to Modern Times
A Dissertation Proposal Presented to
The Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations
by Nicole B. Hansen
https://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/DISPROP/hansen_diss.html

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[fstab]

Wasn’t it the opposite problem in Champollion’s time? All the guys who failed at breaking Rosetta were studying Arabic and Hebrew; Champollion was the only guy who bothered to learn Coptic (surprise surprise, it’s basically the same language).

[Spirochete]

Their lack of Arabic skills limits non-Egyptian Egyptologists in their ability to gain insights into Egyptian culture.

Hmmm... non-Egyptians invented Egyptology.

[SunkenCiv]

Yup, that helped with figuring out pronounciation, and working the other way, with decipherment. Champollion followed in the footsteps of some others who used the symbols in cartouches (the pharaohs' names) on both the Rosetta Stone and various monuments to worm their way in. Hieroglyphic writing was lost for more than 1500 years. Anyway, I think it's easy to forget what spectacular achievements were made in the field by people who never had digital technology (computers, cameras, email, cell phones) -- they cracked hieroglyphics and demotic, cuneiform, and a host of lost languages (including Old Persian) recorded in cuneiform, one of which only exists as a single sample on a tablet from the Amarna archive. And of course, I always like to give props to Emil Forrer...

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, cut ‘em some slack — the Arab Egyptians didn’t have time to invent it, they were too busy looting tombs, murdering, abducting, and raping Christian Copts...

[Tallguy]

Linguistic limitations are not nearly as big a handicap as ethnic/religious/political blinders that the Egyptian “Egyptologists” are operating with.

[Ciexyz]

btt