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Which forms of Aramaic have survived into modern times?
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Semitic languages
Distribution of the Semitic languages.
Although Aramaic was largely supplanted by Arabic by 650 ce, several forms of the language have survived into modern times through small communities in the Middle East. These surviving dialects are categorized into Western and Eastern varieties:1
- Western Aramaic: A dialect continues to be spoken in the vicinity of Maʿlūlā, Syria.2
- Eastern Aramaic: This group includes several surviving forms:
- Ṭuroyo: Native to an area in eastern Turkey.2
- Modern Mandaic: Spoken in western Iran.2
- Neo-Syriac or Assyrian dialects: Spoken by communities in Iraq, Turkey, and Iran.2
Additionally, while not used for daily communication, classical forms like Syriac remain significant as liturgical languages within certain Christian denominations, including the Chaldean and Assyrian churches.2