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# How to Establish a Verbal Paradigm on the Basis of Ancient Syriac Manuscripts

**Authors:** W.Th. van Peursen · **Year:** 2009 · **Venue:** Proceedings of the EACL 2009 Workshop on Computational Approaches to Semitic Languages, pp. 1–9 **Link:** [aclanthology.org/W09-0801](https://aclanthology.org/W09-0801/) · library `aclbulk-2009-peursen-how-establish-verbal-paradigm-basis` · **Licence:** [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) (ACL Anthology, before 2016) — summary only

[**2** citations in our library](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/cited-by/aclbulk-2009-peursen-how-establish-verbal-paradigm-basis/) of the 140673 papers whose bibliographies we read[Proceedings of the EACL 2009 Workshop on Computational Approaches to Semitic Languages](https://aclanthology.org/volumes/W09-08/)[licence](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

- [Publisher's page](https://aclanthology.org/W09-0801/)
- [PDF](https://aclanthology.org/W09-0801.pdf)

**Authors (1)**

1. van Peursen, Wido

Citations and author metrics from OpenAlex (); authors with the same name are not always told apart.

## What it is about

The Turgama project at Leiden analyses the Syriac Peshitta, an ancient Aramaic Bible translation with a small corpus, no native speakers and many manuscript witnesses that differ in spelling. The author argues for encoding rather than tagging. A word is written as a formal string, marking the prefix, the lexeme, an unexpected letter, an expected but missing letter and the verbal ending. The grammatical values are derived later by a rule file (the "Word Grammar") and a lexicon, in an interactive loop where a human accepts or rejects proposals from an analytical lexicon that grows over time. The worked example is the perfect verb. Traditional grammars give the 3rd plural with a silent -w, but the manuscripts also attest a -w on the 3rd singular, and the paper records such forms with their witnesses instead of normalising them. The paper describes a workflow and a model; it gives no accuracy figures.

## Ideas

- I1. Encode the attested forms, not only the grammatical paradigm: a marker for an absent paradigmatic letter, a marker for an unexpected letter, and a marker for the ending. For [The verb](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/hbo/06-verb/) and [The weak verbs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/hbo/07-weak-verbs/), the defective and plene spellings of weak verbs can be written in this way, so the tool sees the gap instead of a normalised form.
- I2. Keep the reason with the result: every grammatical value the rule file gives is traceable to a rule and a lexicon entry, and the paper's dump files show the trace. Mova's frames and `world` should keep the same trace so that each deduction can say why.
- I3. An index of orthographic variants per edition: the spelling categories with the forms that fall under each and their counts. A table of defective and plene variants like this would test the unpointed mode of `tools/hbo` and the OCR correction in `tools/ocrfix` on realistic variation.

## For Mova

I1 goes into [The verb](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/hbo/06-verb/) and [The weak verbs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/hbo/07-weak-verbs/), and the same encoding is a candidate for [The verb in Biblical Aramaic](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/languages/arc/verbs/) (Syriac is an Aramaic variety). I2 goes into the `prag` and `world` traces. I3 goes into `tools/hbo` and `tools/ocrfix`.

## Cite

The paper itself, not this card. BibTeX from the library's record of the work.

```
@inproceedings{wido2009how,
  title = {{How to Establish a Verbal Paradigm on the Basis of Ancient Syriac Manuscripts}},
  author = {Wido, van Peursen,},
  booktitle = {Proceedings of the EACL 2009 Workshop on Computational Approaches to Semitic Languages},
  year = {2009},
  url = {https://aclanthology.org/W09-0801/}
}
```

- [← previous Revisiting Multi-Tape Automata for Semitic Morphological Analysis and Generation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/aclbulk-2009-hulden-revisiting-multi-tape-automata-semitic/)
- [next → Unsupervised Decomposition of a Document into Authorial Components](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/aclbulk-2011-koppel-unsupervised-decomposition-document-into-authorial/)
- [↑ back to Ancient Hebrew](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/hbo/)

## References

19 references, 0 of them with a card of ours. ↗ leads to the work, «find» searches for one we have no id for yet.

1. Bakker, D., 2008. Lemma and Lexeme: The Case of Third-Aleph and Third-Yodh Verbs. Pp. 11–25 in FSL3. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Bakker%2C+D%2E%2C+2008%2E+Lemma+and+Lexeme%3A+The+Case+of+Third%2DAleph+and+Third%2DYodh+Verbs%2E+Pp%2E+11%E2%80%9325+in+FSL3%2E)
2. Boyarin, Daniel. 1981. An Inquiry into the Formation of the Middle Aramaic Dialects. Pp. 613–649 in Bono Homini Donum. Essays in Historical Linguistics in Memory of J. Alexander Kerns, Vol. II. Edited by Y.L. Arbeitman and A.R. Bomhard. Amsterdam Studies in the Theory and History of Linguistic Science; Series IV: Current Issues in Linguistic History 16. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. [↗](https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.16.40boy)
3. Brock, Sebastian P. 2003. Some Diachronic Features of Classical Syriac. Pp. 95–111 in Hamlet on a Hill: Semitic and Greek Studies Presented to Professor T. Muraoka on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday. Edited by M.F.J. Baasten and W.Th. van Peursen. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 118. Leuven: Peeters. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Brock%2C+Sebastian+P%2E+2003%2E+Some+Diachronic+Features+of+Classical+Syriac%2E+Pp%2E+95%E2%80%93111+in+Hamlet+on+a+Hill%3A+Semitic+and+Greek+Studies+Presented+to+Professor+T%2E+Muraoka+on+the+Occasion+of+his+Sixty%2DFifth+B)
4. Brockelmann, Carl. 1976. Syrische Grammatik. 12th edition. Leipzig: Verlag Enzyklopädie. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Brockelmann%2C+Carl%2E+1976%2E+Syrische+Grammatik%2E+12th+edition%2E+Leipzig%3A+Verlag+Enzyklop%C3%A4die%2E)
5. Carroll, James L., Robbie Haertel, Peter McClanahan, Eric Ringger, and Kevin Seppi. 2007. Modeling the Annotation Process for Ancient Corpus Creation. in Chatressar 2007, Proceedings of the International Conference of Electronic Corpora of Ancient Languages (ECAL), Prague, Czech Republic, November 2007. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Carroll%2C+James+L%2E%2C+Robbie+Haertel%2C+Peter+McClanahan%2C+Eric+Ringger%2C+and+Kevin+Seppi%2E+2007%2E+Modeling+the+Annotation+Process+for+Ancient+Corpus+Creation%2E+in+Chatressar+2007%2C+Proceedings+of+the+Internatio)
6. Dirksen, P.B. 1972. The Transmission of the Text of the Book of Judges. Monographs of the Peshitta Institute Leiden 1. Leiden: Brill. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Dirksen%2C+P%2EB%2E+1972%2E+The+Transmission+of+the+Text+of+the+Book+of+Judges%2E+Monographs+of+the+Peshitta+Institute+Leiden+1%2E+Leiden%3A+Brill%2E)
7. Dirksen, P.B. 1978. ‘Judges’, in The Old Testament in Syriac according to the Peshiṭta Version Vol. II/2 Judges, Samuel. Leiden: Brill. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Dirksen%2C+P%2EB%2E+1978%2E+%E2%80%98Judges%E2%80%99%2C+in+The+Old+Testament+in+Syriac+according+to+the+Peshi%E1%B9%ADta+Version+Vol%2E+II%2F2+Judges%2C+Samuel%2E+Leiden%3A+Brill%2E)
8. Dyk, Janet W. and Wido van Peursen. 2008. Foundations for Syriac Lexicography III. Colloquia of the International Syriac Language Project. Perspectives on Syriac Linguistics 4; Piscataway, NJ. Gorgias. [= FSL3] Heal, Kristian S. and Alison Salvesen. Forthcoming. Foundations for Syriac Lexicography IV. Colloquia of the International Syriac Language Project. Perspectives on Syriac Linguistics 5. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias. [= FSL4] [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Dyk%2C+Janet+W%2E+and+Wido+van+Peursen%2E+2008%2E+Foundations+for+Syriac+Lexicography+III%2E+Colloquia+of+the+International+Syriac+Language+Project%2E+Perspectives+on+Syriac+Linguistics+4%3B+Piscataway%2C+NJ%2E+Gorgias)
9. Keulen, P.S.F. van, 2008. Feminine Nominal Endings in Hebrew, Aramaic and Syriac: Derivation or Inflection? Pp. 27–39 in FSL3. [↗](https://doi.org/10.31826/9781463216276-008)
10. Keulen, P.S.F. van and W.Th. van Peursen. 2006. Corpus Linguistics and Textual History. A Computer-Assisted Interdisciplinary Approach to the Peshitta. Studia Semitica Neerlandica 48. Assen: Van Gorcum. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Keulen%2C+P%2ES%2EF%2E+van+and+W%2ETh%2E+van+Peursen%2E+2006%2E+Corpus+Linguistics+and+Textual+History%2E+A+Computer%2DAssisted+Interdisciplinary+Approach+to+the+Peshitta%2E+Studia+Semitica+Neerlandica+48%2E+Assen%3A+Van+Gorcu)
11. Kiraz, George Anton. 2001. Computational Nonlinear Morphology. With Emphasis on Semitic Languages. Studies in Natural Language Processing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Kiraz%2C+George+Anton%2E+2001%2E+Computational+Nonlinear+Morphology%2E+With+Emphasis+on+Semitic+Languages%2E+Studies+in+Natural+Language+Processing%2E+Cambridge%3A+Cambridge+University+Press%2E)
12. Nöldeke, Theodor. 2001. Compendious Syriac Grammar. Translated from the second improved German edition by J.A. Crichton. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=N%C3%B6ldeke%2C+Theodor%2E+2001%2E+Compendious+Syriac+Grammar%2E+Translated+from+the+second+improved+German+edition+by+J%2EA%2E+Crichton%2E+Winona+Lake%3A+Eisenbrauns%2E)
13. Peursen, W.Th. van and Bakker, D. Forthcoming. Lemmatization and Grammatical Categorization: The Case of ܶ ܗ ܰ in Classical Syriac. In FSL4 Peursen, W.Th. van. 2008. Inflectional Morpheme or Part of the Lexeme: Some Reflections on the Shaphel in Classical Syriac. Pp. 41–57 in FSL3. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Peursen%2C+W%2ETh%2E+van+and+Bakker%2C+D%2E+Forthcoming%2E+Lemmatization+and+Grammatical+Categorization%3A+The+Case+of+%DC%B6+%DC%97+%DC%B0+in+Classical+Syriac%2E+In+FSL4+Peursen%2C+W%2ETh%2E+van%2E+2008%2E+Inflectional+Morpheme+or+Part+of+t)
14. Peursen, W.Th. van. 2007. Language and Interpretation in the Syriac Text of Ben Sira. A Comparative Linguistic and Literary Study. Monographs of the Peshitta Institute Leiden 16. Leiden: Brill. [↗](https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004163942.i-475)
15. Peursen, W.Th. van. 2008. Language Variation, Language Development and the Textual History of the Peshitta. Pp. 231–256 in Aramaic in its Historical and Linguistic Setting. Edited by H. Gzella and M.L. Folmer. Veröffentlichungen der Orientalischen Kommission 50. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. Peursen, W.Th. van. Forthcoming. Numerals and Nominal Inflection in Classical Syriac. In FSL4. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Peursen%2C+W%2ETh%2E+van%2E+2008%2E+Language+Variation%2C+Language+Development+and+the+Textual+History+of+the+Peshitta%2E+Pp%2E+231%E2%80%93256+in+Aramaic+in+its+Historical+and+Linguistic+Setting%2E+Edited+by+H%2E+Gzella+and+M%2EL)
16. Ringger, Eric, Peter McClanahan, Robbie Haertel, George Busby, Marc Carmen, James Carroll, Kevin Seppi and Deryle Lonsdale. 2007. Active Learning for Part-of-Speech Tagging: Accelerating Corpus Annotation. Pp. 101–108 in Proceedings of the ACL Linguistic Annotation Workshop, Association for Computational Linguistics. [↗](https://doi.org/10.3115/1642059.1642075)
17. Prague, Czech Republic, June 2007. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Prague%2C+Czech+Republic%2C+June+2007%2E)
18. Sikkel, Constantijn J. 2008. Lexeme Status of Pronominal Suffixes. Pp. 59–67 in FSL3. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Sikkel%2C+Constantijn+J%2E+2008%2E+Lexeme+Status+of+Pronominal+Suffixes%2E+Pp%2E+59%E2%80%9367+in+FSL3%2E)
19. Talstra, Eep, and Dyk, Janet W. 2006. The Computer and Biblical Research: Are there Perspectives beyond the Imitation of Classical Instruments? Pp. 189–203 in Text, Translation, and Tradition. Edited by W.Th. van Peursen and R.B. ter Haar Romeny. Monographs of the Peshitta Institute Leiden 14. Leiden: Brill. [↗](https://doi.org/10.1163/9789047410577_019)