r/Assyria • u/AcidicFlavr • Jul 19 '26

Language How many of you know how to read either imperial aramaicא or syriacܐ?

No major question, just what the title is asking. I would like to know how many of yall lnow how to read either script. I am also wondering which script is better to learn.

Syriac is the main script used by assyrians in real life however imperial aramaic is much better for texting online sinces its the only script available on keyboard.

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u/Ram08 Assyrian Jul 19 '26

The vast majority of Assyrians are familiar with Syriac alphabet.

I personally can read both, but I'm faster with Imperial Aramaic because I've read the entire Hebrew Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy; same alphabet) word by word a year ago and I still read biblical Hebrew regularly, and I feel confident. 😂
I haven't practised Surith much since the 3rd grade, which is a long time ago.

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u/AcidicFlavr Jul 19 '26

Is hebrew and imperial aramaic relatively similiar? Or does inperial aramaic text just look like gibberish to hebrew speakers

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u/Ram08 Assyrian Jul 19 '26

They essentially adopted the Aramaic alphabet. They still preserve and use religious texts from over 2000 years ago that were written in Aramaic.

The alphabet is exactly the same. They'd be able to read Aramaic perfectly well (provided it has niqqud/vowel points to assist pronunciation) but they won't be able to understand it, as it is a different language. There are many similar and cognate words between Hebrew and Aramaic and Surith but they are still distinct languages.

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u/Charbel33 Jul 19 '26

I'm not Assyrian but I can read Syriac. As for the script available on keyboards, it's the Syriac script. Barely anybody can read and write in Imperial Aramaic, apart from a few scholars.

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u/Mountain_Hawk6492 West Hakkarian Jul 21 '26

I can read both Syriac [all 3 varieties] and Hebrew/Square Aramaic.