Sogdian Language Guide52

Introduction

Sogdian was an Eastern Iranian language spoken in Central Asia from the 6th century BCE to the 10th century CE. It was the official language of the Sogdian city-states and was used for trade and diplomacy throughout the Silk Road. Sogdian is closely related to Bactrian and is part of the Eastern Iranian branch of the Indo-European language family.

Phonology

Sogdian had a relatively simple phonological system, with 6 vowels and 21 consonants. The vowels were /a/, /e/, /o/, /u/, /i/, and /ə/. The consonants were /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, /g/, /f/, /v/, /s/, /z/, /š/, /ž/, /h/, /l/, /r/, /m/, /n/, /y/, and /w/. Sogdian was also a tonal language, with three tones: high, mid, and low.

Grammar

Sogdian had a relatively complex grammatical system, with several features that are not found in other Iranian languages. Nouns had two genders (masculine and feminine) and three numbers (singular, dual, and plural). Verbs had a full system of tenses, moods, and aspects. Sogdian also had a rich system of particles and postpositions, which were used to express a wide range of grammatical functions.

Syntax

Sogdian had a relatively free word order, although the subject usually came before the verb. The language used a variety of sentence types, including declarative, interrogative, imperative, and conditional. Sogdian also had a system of clitics, which were attached to words to express various grammatical functions.

Writing System

Sogdian was written using a variety of scripts, including the Sogdian script, the Bactrian script, and the Mani script. The Sogdian script was the most common script used to write Sogdian, and it was derived from the Aramaic alphabet. The Bactrian script was also used to write Sogdian, and it was derived from the Greek alphabet. The Mani script was a Manichaean script that was used to write Sogdian, as well as a number of other languages.

Literature

Sogdian literature is relatively limited, but it includes a number of important texts, such as the "Sogdian Genesis" and the "Sogdian Book of Esther." The "Sogdian Genesis" is a translation of the biblical book of Genesis into Sogdian, and it is one of the oldest surviving texts in the Sogdian language. The "Sogdian Book of Esther" is a translation of the biblical book of Esther into Sogdian, and it is one of the few surviving texts that attest to the Jewish presence in Central Asia.

Conclusion

Sogdian was an important language of Central Asia for over a thousand years. It was the language of trade and diplomacy, and it was used to write a variety of texts, including religious texts, literary works, and historical documents. Sogdian is now a dead language, but it is still studied by scholars for its historical and linguistic significance.

2024-11-05

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