PalästinäischAramäisch

PalästinäischAramäisch is a term used in linguistic contexts to refer to Palestinian Aramaic, the Aramaic dialects historically spoken in the region of Palestine. It is generally classified within the Western Aramaic branch of Northwest Aramaic and is related to other Levantine Aramaic varieties such as Judaean and Galilean Aramaic. The designation helps distinguish Levantine Aramaic dialects from neighboring languages, notably Arabic, with which they have long-standing contact.

Geographically, Palestinian Aramaic refers to dialects that were spoken in parts of historic Palestine, including areas in the Judean and Galilean regions. The use of Aramaic in this area declined over the centuries, particularly after the early Arab conquests, but attestations from late antique, medieval, and early modern periods survive in manuscripts and inscriptions. In recent times, only a small number of elderly speakers remain in some remote communities and diaspora groups, making documentation and preservation a focus for scholars.

Linguistically, Palestinian Aramaic shares core features of Aramaic languages, such as a root-based verbal system and the use of a definite article in many dialects. It shows influence from surrounding Arabic through loanwords and code-switching, while maintaining distinct Aramaic morphology and syntax. It is distinct from Palestinian Arabic, a form of Arabic, though both languages have coexisted in the region for many centuries.

See also: Aramaic, Western Aramaic, Palestinian Arabic, Levantine languages.