Michael Sokoloff Pořadí knih (chronologicky)

The second edition of Carl Brockelmann's Lexicon Syriacum, published in 1928, is regarded as the finest Syriac dictionary. However, its Latin language and organization by triliteral Semitic roots complicate its use for many students and scholars. The dictionary's concise nature often results in references lacking sufficient context, making glosses challenging even for those familiar with Latin. Since its publication, significant advancements in Aramaic and Semitic studies have occurred, particularly in Syriac studies with the critical texts of classical authors like Ephrem, highlighting the need for a modern dictionary. Although a new dictionary project is not yet underway and would take years to complete, this edition of Brockelmann's work aims to enhance accessibility to Syriac vocabulary for scholars, students, and speakers. Key updates include meanings provided in English rather than Latin, an alphabetical vocabulary order, verified text citations with updates reflecting new critical editions, and the addition of partial or complete translations for citations. Etymologies have been thoroughly revised, and two electronic indexes (English-Syriac and Text References) have been created. This dictionary serves as an essential resource for anyone engaged in Syriac studies, Semitic linguistics, and biblical studies.

This scholarly achievement presents the first new dictionary of Jewish Babylonian Aramaic in a century, offering a complete lexicon of vocabulary from literary and epigraphic sources used by the Jewish community in Babylon from the third to the twelfth century C.E. Author Michael Sokoloff primarily draws from the Babylonian Talmud, a key work in Jewish literature, while also incorporating a diverse range of sources, including inscriptions, legal documents, and other rabbinical texts. Unlike previous dictionaries that combined various Aramaic dialects, this work focuses solely on one dialect, preserving distinctions in meaning and nuance. Sokoloff leverages the latest linguistic and textual scholarship to ensure the accuracy of his lexical entries, which are organized into six parts: lemma or root, part of speech, English gloss, etymology, semantic features, and bibliographic references. An essential feature is the index of cited passages, enabling readers to easily locate the semantics of specific words within texts. This comprehensive and up-to-date reference is not only valuable for linguists and specialists in Jewish Aramaic literature but also beneficial for lay readers and students seeking to understand the Babylonian Talmud.

Since the Middle Ages, lexographies of Talmudic and rabbinic literature have often combined Babylonian, Palestinian, and Targumic words into single entries, which can be misleading due to differing meanings and nuances in closely related dialects. Recognizing the need for separate treatment of each dialect, Michael Sokoloff presents a complete lexicon of the dialect spoken and written by Jews in Palestine during the Byzantine period, from the third to the tenth century C.E. His work draws on an extensive range of sources, including inscriptions from synagogues, amulets, letters, poems, and various texts such as local Targumim, Palestinian Midrashim, Talmud, and marriage documents from the Arabic period. Many of these sources were previously unavailable to lexographers who relied on outdated editions of rabbinic literature. The discovery of new manuscripts in European libraries and the Cairo Geniza has significantly enhanced the textual basis for Jewish Palestinian Aramaic. Each entry is systematically organized into six parts: lemma or root, part of speech, English gloss, etymology, semantic features, and bibliographic references, along with an index of cited passages. This updated reference work serves as a vital resource for students and scholars, facilitating a deeper understanding of the Aramaic dialect in Jewish Palestinian literature and its relationship to other dialects.