Contents
Preface.....................................................................................................................................±2
1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................±3
1.1 General remarks....................................................................................................i3
±.2 Remarks on the transcription and specific terminology used throughout
this book................................................................................................................15
1.2.1 Notation of Egyptian consonants; l.a.a Notation of Egyptian vowels; 1.2.3 Under-
standing Egyptian examples in this book; 1.2.4 Notation of Coptic; 1.2.5 Further re-
marks on the citation of Egyptian and Coptic words; 1.2.6 Other symbols; 1.2.7 Periods
of Egyptian history
1.3 Phonemes and phonology.....................................................................................18
1.4 Peculiarities of a phonological analysis of Egyptian as an extinct
language................................................................................................................±9
1.5 The Neogrammarian's principles and diachronic phonology............................21
1.6 Refining a synchronic phonological analysis by diachronic evidence............22
1.7 Phonemic versus graphemic representation.......................................................24
1.8 A short history of research in Egyptian phonology............................................26
2 Basic information about Egyptian.................................................................................27
2.1 Diachronic stages of the Egyptian language......................................................27
2.1.1 Ca. 3ioo-i3oobc: a single written language; a.i.a Ca. i3oo—500BC: differentiation
into two written languages; a.i.3 Ca. 500BC — 250AD: three written languages; 2.1.4 Ca.
250 - i70o(?)ad: two/three written languages; 2.1.5 Modern time; a.1.6 Synopsis
2.2 Late Coptic............................................................................................................3o
a.a.i The disappearance of Coptic as a spoken language; a.a.a Coptic as a language of
liturgy in modern Egypt
2.3 Dialects.................................................................................................................33
2.4 Major dictionaries and grammars of Egyptian....................................................36
2.4.1 Dictionaries; 3.4.3 Grammars
2.5 The indigenous Egyptian scripts.........................................................................39
2.5.1 General observations; 2.5.2 Writing styles; 2.5.3 Writing direction; a.5.4 Distinc-
tive features; 2.5.5 Sign color; 2.5.6 Segmentation; 2.5.7 Functional classes within the
hieroglyphic script; 2.5.8 Subtypes of phonograms in Egyptian; 2.5.9 The interaction of
phonograms and semograms; 2.5.10 Different graphemic subsets applied by etymolog-
ical criteria
2.6 Transcribing Pre-Coptic Egyptian.......................................................................46
2.6.1 On the nature of the conventional transcription................................................46
3.6.1.1 General definition; a.6.1.2 Problems connected with the transcription
of certain words; 3.6.1.3 Interpreting transcription symbols
a.6.a The monoconsonantal signs and their transcription...........................................48
a.6.3 Thej-signs...................................................................................................49
a.6.3.i Distribution; a.6.3.a Function; 2.6.3.3 Transcription
2.6.4 Defective writing..........................................................................................50
a.6.5 The Egyptological scholarly pronunciation......................................................52
3.6.5.1 Introduction; 2.6.5.2 Pronunciation of consonants; 2.6.5.3 Vocalic
realization of consonant symbols; 2.6.5.4 e-insertion; 2.6.5.5 The role of
morphology; 2.6.5.6 Exceptions
2.7 The Coptic alphabet.............................................................................................56
3.7.1 Introduction; 2.7.2 The letters and their transcription; 2.7.3 The names of the
Coptic letters; a.7.4 The digraphs £1 and OV; 3.7.5 The superlinear stroke in Sahidic-
Coptic writing
2.8 How to use an Egyptian or Coptic dictionary.....................................................65
2.8.1 Egyptian dictionaries; a.8.3 Coptic dictionaries
Preface.....................................................................................................................................±2
1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................±3
1.1 General remarks....................................................................................................i3
±.2 Remarks on the transcription and specific terminology used throughout
this book................................................................................................................15
1.2.1 Notation of Egyptian consonants; l.a.a Notation of Egyptian vowels; 1.2.3 Under-
standing Egyptian examples in this book; 1.2.4 Notation of Coptic; 1.2.5 Further re-
marks on the citation of Egyptian and Coptic words; 1.2.6 Other symbols; 1.2.7 Periods
of Egyptian history
1.3 Phonemes and phonology.....................................................................................18
1.4 Peculiarities of a phonological analysis of Egyptian as an extinct
language................................................................................................................±9
1.5 The Neogrammarian's principles and diachronic phonology............................21
1.6 Refining a synchronic phonological analysis by diachronic evidence............22
1.7 Phonemic versus graphemic representation.......................................................24
1.8 A short history of research in Egyptian phonology............................................26
2 Basic information about Egyptian.................................................................................27
2.1 Diachronic stages of the Egyptian language......................................................27
2.1.1 Ca. 3ioo-i3oobc: a single written language; a.i.a Ca. i3oo—500BC: differentiation
into two written languages; a.i.3 Ca. 500BC — 250AD: three written languages; 2.1.4 Ca.
250 - i70o(?)ad: two/three written languages; 2.1.5 Modern time; a.1.6 Synopsis
2.2 Late Coptic............................................................................................................3o
a.a.i The disappearance of Coptic as a spoken language; a.a.a Coptic as a language of
liturgy in modern Egypt
2.3 Dialects.................................................................................................................33
2.4 Major dictionaries and grammars of Egyptian....................................................36
2.4.1 Dictionaries; 3.4.3 Grammars
2.5 The indigenous Egyptian scripts.........................................................................39
2.5.1 General observations; 2.5.2 Writing styles; 2.5.3 Writing direction; a.5.4 Distinc-
tive features; 2.5.5 Sign color; 2.5.6 Segmentation; 2.5.7 Functional classes within the
hieroglyphic script; 2.5.8 Subtypes of phonograms in Egyptian; 2.5.9 The interaction of
phonograms and semograms; 2.5.10 Different graphemic subsets applied by etymolog-
ical criteria
2.6 Transcribing Pre-Coptic Egyptian.......................................................................46
2.6.1 On the nature of the conventional transcription................................................46
3.6.1.1 General definition; a.6.1.2 Problems connected with the transcription
of certain words; 3.6.1.3 Interpreting transcription symbols
a.6.a The monoconsonantal signs and their transcription...........................................48
a.6.3 Thej-signs...................................................................................................49
a.6.3.i Distribution; a.6.3.a Function; 2.6.3.3 Transcription
2.6.4 Defective writing..........................................................................................50
a.6.5 The Egyptological scholarly pronunciation......................................................52
3.6.5.1 Introduction; 2.6.5.2 Pronunciation of consonants; 2.6.5.3 Vocalic
realization of consonant symbols; 2.6.5.4 e-insertion; 2.6.5.5 The role of
morphology; 2.6.5.6 Exceptions
2.7 The Coptic alphabet.............................................................................................56
3.7.1 Introduction; 2.7.2 The letters and their transcription; 2.7.3 The names of the
Coptic letters; a.7.4 The digraphs £1 and OV; 3.7.5 The superlinear stroke in Sahidic-
Coptic writing
2.8 How to use an Egyptian or Coptic dictionary.....................................................65
2.8.1 Egyptian dictionaries; a.8.3 Coptic dictionaries