The Ancient Egyptian Language
An Historical Study

The first comprehensive study of how the phonology and grammar of ancient Egyptian changed over four millennia of language history.

James P. Allen (Author)

9781107664678, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 July 2013

266 pages
22.8 x 15.1 x 1.3 cm, 0.44 kg

'Essential reading for anyone studying the development of the ancient Egyptian language or who has a more general interest in linguistics and the history of language development.' Ancient Egypt

This book, the first of its kind, examines how the phonology and grammar of the ancient Egyptian language changed over more than three thousand years of its history, from the first appearance of written documents, c.3250 BC, to the Coptic dialects of the second century AD and later. Part One discusses phonology, working backward from the vowels and consonants of Coptic to those that can be deduced for earlier stages of the language. Part Two is devoted to grammar, including both basic components such as nouns and the complex history of the verbal system. The book thus provides both a synchronic description of the five major historical stages of ancient Egyptian and a diachronic analysis of their development and relationship.

1. Ancient Egyptian
Part I. Phonology: 2. Coptic phonology
3. Coptic and Egyptian
4. Correspondents and cognates
5. Egyptian phonology
Part II. Grammar: 6. Nouns, pronouns, and adjectives
7. Non-verbal predicates
8. Verbs
9. Verbs: Egyptian I
10. Verbs: Egyptian II
11. Verbs: Egyptian I-II
12. Subordination.

Subject Areas: Writing systems, alphabets [CFLA], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Language: history & general works [CBX]