neoaramäischer

Neo-Aramaic, or neoaramäischer in German, designates the modern varieties of the Aramaic language family that have developed since late antiquity and are spoken today by various Aramaic-speaking communities. It is part of the Northwest Semitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Neo-Aramaic is typically divided into Eastern and Western groups. The Eastern branch includes Assyrian Neo-Aramaic (also known as Sureth) and Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, while the Western branch includes Turoyo and related Western varieties.

Geographic and community distribution has shifted from the historic Assyrian homeland in the Mesopotamian region to widespread diasporas. Today Neo-Aramaic languages are spoken in parts of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, as well as in communities across Europe, the Americas, and Australia. The number of speakers is uneven by dialect and is affected by factors such as migration, language shift, and education. In many places the languages exist alongside dominant national languages and other regional languages.

Writing systems for Neo-Aramaic typically rely on the Syriac script, with three classical variants (Estrangela, Serto, and Madnhaya) historically used for liturgical texts and modern writings. In diaspora contexts, Latin script is also commonly used, particularly for Assyrian and Chaldean communities.

Linguistically, Neo-Aramaic varieties retain core Aramaic vocabulary and grammar while absorbing loanwords from Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, and other languages. Efforts to document, standardize, and teach Neo-Aramaic continue in academic, religious, and community settings, as well as through media and education projects aimed at language vitality and cultural preservation.