현대 이라크 앗시리아인의 사용 언어에 관한 연구

A Study on Languages Used by Contemporary Assyrians in Iraq

Despite the Assyrian, or neo-Aramaic language is the mother language of tens of thousands of modern Assyrians and the liturgical language of the Church of the East, the number of its users is often underestimated, if not considered as dead. It is a descendent of the Eastern Syriac. The Eastern Syriac went through its golden era between the 4th and the 7th century, was used in between translation from Greek literatures into Arabic, and influenced on number of different scripts. Modern Assyrian began to be written in the nineteenth century. It serves as one of the most salient group markers, a source of pride as a Christian group, and the cherished cultural heritage of Assyrians. However, due to the massacre and mass deportation during the WWI, and on-going emigration of the Assyrians from their homeland, the usage of Assyrian language is gravely decreasing. Also, as a minority group in Iraq and in the Middle East, to learn and use of different languages for Assyrians other than Assyrian is imperative to survive. This article first examines development of the Assyrian language and the present situation. Then, it deals with use of languages that Assyrians in Iraq use presently.