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+--- Thread: A Comparison of Hebrew and Syriac (/showthread.php?tid=174)
A Comparison of Hebrew and Syriac - gamora77 - 03-16-2019
The similarities are strong from a conceptual stance, but the differences are so significant that Syriac will definitely be learning a completely different language. If you get intimidated by languages, knowing Hebrew will make Syriac look easy. But you'll still have to learn a ton of vocabulary and idiom to learn Syriac. Both languages are semitic and based on trilateral consonantal roots. Syriac has a less articulate system of pronunciation, so morphology is generally easier. The Syriac Verbal system is much easier, reflecting our common notions of tense much more directly than in Hebrew, which is strongly aspectual and temporality often has to be determined from context.
So in short, Hebrew and Syriac are different languages. Syriac is easier, though. If you know Hebrew, Syriac will come off like a breeze. However, you'll still have to learn a lot of words and idioms.
RE: A Comparison of Hebrew and Syriac - Jason - 03-16-2019
Syriac is Aramaic. Have you looked into learning Aramaic at all?