02-07-2008, 10:23 AM
It depends on what level of knowledge you currently have. If you don't know much yet or have only a basic understanding of the grammar, then Thackston's grammar is a good start. It is only an introductory grammar, though, but you need to start with these first. But beware - a key to the exercises is available, but there are lots of errors in it and it is a right pain to use because of this.
When you get to the stage where you can read the Peshitta in Serto and Eastern scripts, you will start to find the limitations of Thackston. A more comprehensive grammar, but still very readable, is Noldeke's Compendious Syriac Grammar. If you start getting serious, there is a two-volume grammar by Tomas Arayathinal (an Indian!) which is probably the ultimate grammar - very easy to read, but also very detailed. Noldeke's and Arayathinal's grammars are available at Lulu at a very reasonable price. I haven't found any PDF download of them yet. Although Arayathinal's grammar is called "Aramaic Grammar" it is aimed at the Peshitta.
If you know Hebrew well, you can learn Aramaic very quickly. I started with Thackston's Grammar, but quickly outgrew it.
Also, don't forget that there are lots of Aramaic and Syriac grammars available as free downloads. Go to <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.archive.org">http://www.archive.org</a><!-- w -->, and enter "syriac" or "aramaic" in the search box. Wow! There are LOTS. They are all out of copyright, and are rather old now, but as the Peshitta hasn't changed for 2000 years, they are still good to go.
I am assuming by "Aramaic Grammar" you mean the Aramaic of the Peshitta. If you want grammars on the "Chaldee" or Aramaic of Daniel and Ezra in the Tanakh, other grammars are available which are better for those particular books.
- Ewan MacLeod
When you get to the stage where you can read the Peshitta in Serto and Eastern scripts, you will start to find the limitations of Thackston. A more comprehensive grammar, but still very readable, is Noldeke's Compendious Syriac Grammar. If you start getting serious, there is a two-volume grammar by Tomas Arayathinal (an Indian!) which is probably the ultimate grammar - very easy to read, but also very detailed. Noldeke's and Arayathinal's grammars are available at Lulu at a very reasonable price. I haven't found any PDF download of them yet. Although Arayathinal's grammar is called "Aramaic Grammar" it is aimed at the Peshitta.
If you know Hebrew well, you can learn Aramaic very quickly. I started with Thackston's Grammar, but quickly outgrew it.
Also, don't forget that there are lots of Aramaic and Syriac grammars available as free downloads. Go to <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.archive.org">http://www.archive.org</a><!-- w -->, and enter "syriac" or "aramaic" in the search box. Wow! There are LOTS. They are all out of copyright, and are rather old now, but as the Peshitta hasn't changed for 2000 years, they are still good to go.
I am assuming by "Aramaic Grammar" you mean the Aramaic of the Peshitta. If you want grammars on the "Chaldee" or Aramaic of Daniel and Ezra in the Tanakh, other grammars are available which are better for those particular books.
- Ewan MacLeod