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Religion In Language Policy, And The Survival Of Syriac, Ibrahim George Aboud

Theses Digitization Project

Throughout Islamic era, the Syriac language remained the language of the majority despite Arabic hegemony. The decline of the Syriac accompanied the decline of Christianity in the East, and was affected by the policies of rival religious and nationalist groups. By considering the current conditions under which Syriac speakers live, and the renewed interest in reviving the language among Christian communities in the modern Fertile Crescent, this thesis will examine the causes of decline over the centuries, and the possibilities for the revival of Syriac in modern times. The present research examines how religion contributed to the shaping of language …