Nabataean language

The Nabataean language is a Semitic language and served as the written language of the Nabatean kingdom.

Origin

With the end of the Persian Empire also lost the Aramaic language as a lingua franca of the Middle East are increasingly in importance. In addition they now entered the Greek. The formerly unified writing and literary culture was divided into local schools and won the old dialects now than written languages ​​important. When one of these local developments, the Nabataean may apply. As the population of the Nabatäerreiches should have spoken mainly a North Arabian dialect, the Nabataean is probably primarily be regarded as a written language.

Linguistic classification

As an offshoot of the Imperial Aramaic Nabataean is closer to the westaramäischen dialects. However, clearly shows the Arab influence, such as in the frequent interchange of "l " and "n " in Arabic proper names and numerous Arab Lehnworten. Around the 4th century, the Arab influence eventually becomes so strong that the Nabataean almost merges into the Arabian.

Credentials

Nabataean written records are found mainly in the Nabatäerstädten Petra, Bosra and Hegra (especially grave and votive inscriptions ), and numerous smaller inscriptions from the southern Sinai. Furthermore, there are Nabataean texts from the caves near the Dead Sea.

Font

The Nabataean writing is characterized by a very distinctive cursive ductus. This was the forerunner of the Arabic script.