36.2249, Reviews: The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok: Dorota Molin (2024)

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Subject: 36.2249, Reviews: The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok: Dorota Molin (2024)

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Date: 23-Jul-2025
From: Francisco Garcia Sanchis [frangarcia918 at gmail.com]
Subject: Historical Linguistics, Language Documentation, Typology: Dorota Molin (2024)


Book announced at https://linguistlist.org/issues/35-2676

Title: The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok
Subtitle: A Comparative-Typological Grammar
Series Title: Studies in Semitic Languages and Linguistics
Publication Year: 2024

Publisher: Brill
           http://www.brill.com
Book URL: https://brill.com/display/title/63213

Author(s): Dorota Molin

Reviewer: Francisco Garcia Sanchis

REVIEW The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok
SUMMARY
Dorota Molin’s The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok: A
Comparative-Typological Grammar is a comprehensive monograph that
delves into the intricate linguistic features of the Neo-Aramaic
dialect spoken by the Jewish community in Dohok, a city located on the
Northeast of the Iraqi Kurdistan. This work is part of the Studies in
Semitic Languages and Linguistics series (Volume 112) and is designed
primarily for a scholarly audience, particularly those with a
background in linguistics, Semitic studies, and comparative grammar.
Molin’s book embarks on an ambitious project: to document and analyze
the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical elements of a
dialect that, until recently, has received limited academic attention.
The author approaches the subject from a comparative-typological
framework, meaning that the analysis does not merely describe the
dialect in isolation but situates it within the broader context of
Neo-Aramaic varieties and related Semitic languages. By drawing
comparisons with other dialects, Molin is able to highlight both the
distinctive features of the Dohok variety and the commonalities that
tie it to its linguistic relatives. This comparative approach is
crucial, as it helps elucidate how historical, geographical, and
sociocultural factors have contributed to the evolution of the
dialect.
Molin’s work is structured to first provide a detailed description of
the phonetic and phonological systems that characterize the dialect.
This section is divided into two chapters. The first focuses on
phonetics, including an examination of its sound inventory. The second
deals with phonology and phonotactics, covering syllable structure,
stress patterns, and intonation. The analysis is supported by
extensive fieldwork data, offering concrete examples of how the
language is used in everyday communication.
The morphological section of the book is equally meticulous. Molin
examines the structure of words and, unlike other grammars, this book
begins with a section of analysis of the pronominal system, presented
with morphological tables and examples drawn from the corpus. The next
chapter provides a brief overview of nouns and adjectives, with a
primary focus on noun annexation, a characteristic grammatical feature
of NENA (Northeastern Neo-Aramic). The following section covers verbal
morphology, situating it within the broader typology of verbal
derivation and inflection in NENA. The system consists of four
derivational patterns corresponding to historical Semitic stems,
though some patterns are merging in peripheral dialects. The chapter
also examines weak and irregular verbs, challenging the traditional
root-and-pattern model by arguing that many verbs are best understood
as belonging to templatic classes rather than being strictly
root-derived. Additionally, irregular verbs, often high-frequency
ones, deviate from both root-based and templatic structures,
contributing to a gradual shift in the productivity of templatic
morphology in NENA. Finally, there are two short chapters on the
numeral system, as well as prepositions and adverbs.
The final section offers an analysis of syntax and morphosyntax,
focusing on sentence structure, phrase organization, and the
tense-aspect-mood (TAM) system. The first chapter deals with the
actancy of simple phrases, with particular attention to the complexity
of NENA alignment. It also explores ditransitive constructions, past
transitive structures, and differential object marking, highlighting
how indexing strategies vary based on tense, aspect, and argument
structure. The second chapter examines non-finite clauses, revealing
some distinctive features within NENA languages. Special attention is
given to the various copulas present in this dialect, with an emphasis
on their historical development. A notable strength of this chapter is
the variety of examples, which are clearly glossed, translated, and
explained. The final chapter studies the TAM category, which has
undergone significant innovations. The traditional prefix and suffix
conjugations of Aramaic have been entirely lost, replaced by forms
based on the šaqəl stem, such as k-šaqəl (imperfective realis),
b-šaqəl (predictive future), and qam-šaqəl-la (transitive past
perfective). The chapter discusses the functional distinctions of
these forms, the role of preverbs, and the development of periphrastic
constructions, including ‘copula + participle’ and ‘copula +
infinitive,’ which remain conservative in Jewish Dohok. The study also
examines iterative and habitual aspects, realis vs. irrealis mood, and
the shift in alignment from Late Antique Aramaic to modern NENA.
The book concludes with a sample text of 96 sentences, accompanied by
a glossary and a summary of the main grammatical findings. The last
chapter is a conclusion where the main topics of the grammar are
summed up and some perspectives on the field of Semitic linguistics
are pointed out.
In summary, the book is both a descriptive and analytical work that
provides a deep dive into the grammatical structure of the Neo-Aramaic
dialect of the Jews of Dohok. Molin’s work is an indispensable
resource for specialists seeking to understand the complexities of
minority  languages, especially those at risk of fading away in the
face of modern sociolinguistic challenges.
EVALUATION
Molin’s The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok stands out as a
significant contribution to the field of Semitic linguistics. The
author’s decision to adopt a comparative-typological approach is both
innovative and effective, allowing her to not only document the
specific features of the Dohok dialect but also to position these
features within a wider linguistic and historical context. This
comparative framework enables the reader to see patterns and parallels
with other Neo-Aramaic varieties and related Semitic languages, which
enriches our understanding of the evolution and dynamics of these
linguistic systems.
The detailed treatment of phonological aspects is particularly
commendable. Molin provides a thorough description of the sound
system, including a precise account of phonetic variations and shifts
that may be indicative of historical language change. The inclusion of
extensive fieldwork data lends empirical weight to the analysis,
offering readers tangible evidence of how the dialect operates in
real-life contexts. This empirical grounding is essential for scholars
who may wish to further investigate the phonological phenomena
described, and it also serves as a robust model for future studies in
similar dialects.
In the realm of morphology, the book excels by providing clear and
detailed analyses of word formation processes. Molin’s exploration of
inflectional and derivational mechanisms is both comprehensive and
accessible to those with a strong grounding in linguistic theory.
There are morphological tables in almost every chapter, which most of
the time appear with some sentences. This combination of morphological
tables and sentences is very useful for understanding the language.
Molin’s examination of sentence structure and syntactic rules is
meticulous and well-supported by examples drawn from natural language
usage. In addition, this work follows the Leipzig Glossing Rules in a
consistent way, and the same rules are used in every chapter. This
section successfully demonstrates how the dialect organizes and
conveys complex ideas through its unique grammatical constructions.
Nonetheless, there are moments when the discussion of syntax could
benefit from deeper contextualization.
This work is undoubtedly a treasure trove of data and analysis for
specialists. Furthermore, while Molin’s comparative approach is a
major asset, there are instances where the discussion of
inter-dialectal or inter-language comparisons feels somewhat cursory.
In terms of potential future research, Molin’s work opens several
promising avenues. The detailed grammatical descriptions and
comparative analyses set the stage for further investigations into
language contact phenomena and diachronic language change.
Additionally, the book’s focus on a minority language with a rich
historical background suggests that similar methodological approaches
could be applied to other under-documented languages, thereby
contributing to the broader field of language preservation and
revitalization.
Throughout the book, Molin employs a rigorous methodological approach
that integrates traditional descriptive techniques with modern
theoretical perspectives. The combination of detailed empirical
analysis and theoretical insights ensures a comprehensive and nuanced
account of the dialect’s grammar. A key strength of this work is its
comparative-typological framework, which allows the author to identify
structural parallels and divergences between the Dohok dialect and
other Semitic and Neo-Aramaic languages. This approach goes beyond
mere description, uncovering underlying linguistic patterns and
historical developments. By situating the dialect within a broader
linguistic landscape, Molin not only enhances the analytical depth of
the study but also provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of
language contact, grammaticalization, and structural change. These
findings make the book particularly relevant for scholars interested
in language documentation, historical linguistics, and the ongoing
processes of linguistic evolution in minority and endangered
languages.
Contextualizing the study within the broader field of Semitic
linguistics highlights its significance both as a documentation of a
specific Neo-Aramaic variety and as a theoretical contribution to
linguistic typology. Despite the growing interest in Neo-Aramaic
languages, many dialects remain under-documented, making Molin’s
research an important addition to the existing body of work. By
systematically analyzing the phonology, morphology, syntax, and
morphosyntax of the Dohok dialect, the book fills a gap in the study
of Eastern Neo-Aramaic. Moreover, its comparative approach allows for
a reassessment of long-standing assumptions about the nature of
language change and contact-induced variation in Semitic languages. As
a result, this study serves as a valuable resource not only for
descriptive linguists working on endangered languages but also for
theoreticians interested in linguistic typology, historical syntax,
and the broader dynamics of language change.
In conclusion, The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Jews of Dohok is a
meticulously researched and thoughtfully presented monograph that
offers significant insights into the grammatical intricacies of a
little-known dialect. Molin’s rigorous methodology, combined with her
comprehensive treatment of phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexicon,
makes the book an essential resource for specialists in Semitic
linguistics and dialectology. The book not only achieves its goal of
documenting and analyzing the dialect but also lays the groundwork for
future research into language contact and preservation, thereby
enriching our broader understanding of linguistic diversity and
evolution.
REFERENCES
Coghill, E. (2022). Advances in Neo-Aramaic linguistics. Brill's
Journal of Afroasiatic Languages and Linguistics, 14(1), 139-145.
https://doi.org/10.1163/18776930-01401006
Gutman, Ariel (2018) Attributive constructions in North-Eastern
Neo-Aramaic. (Studies in Diversity Linguistics 15). Berlin: Language
Science Press. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1182527
Khan, Geoffrey (2016) The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of the Assyrian
Christians of Urmi. Leiden: Brill
Khan, G. & Mohammadirad, M. (2024). Language Contact in Sanandaj: A
Study of the Impact of Iranian on Neo-Aramaic. Berlin, Boston: De
Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111209180
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Francisco Garcia Sanchis is a Master’s student at the Universitat de
València, specializing in the Didactics of Classical Languages. He
holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Classics and a Master’s Degree in
Linguistic Typology. His research interests include Linguistic
Typology, Classical Languages, and Caucasian Languages.



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