PUNIC LANGUAGE

08:13, 5 September 2007 (UTC)
The Punic language is an extinct Semitic language formerly spoken in North Africa by the people of the Punic culture.
Punic as a spoken language is described as extinct and it is too far removed from modern day literature to be thought of as dormant.
Yet there are many scripts still in existence on both sides of the Atlantic.
Some are monumental and generally conform to a Phoenician based alphabet/font, but in addition
classical literature and a number of later dramatic works have preserved the concept of written and spoken Punic, albeit with a roman alphabet and latinised pronunciation.
Most historical translations have in the main relied on roman narratives and most Punic words which easily reach us in the 21st century tend to be North African place, family or personal names.
Other articles contain reference to the Punic Wars in which there are many allusions to such
nomenclature of which some are more well known than others.
e.g. Hannibal, Hasdrubal, Hanno, Hamilcar, Himilco, Hippo Accra, Hadrumentum, Hispania, Bomilcar, Carthalo, Gades, Utica, Bostar, Qartakhena, Qart Hadasht,Gisco,Mago, Melqart, Ashroket, Hamilax, Abdolonim, Haggith, Baalhaan, et al.
One of the most striking features of spoken Punic which transcends more than two millennia is the prevailing aspirate 'h' in translation.
Those modern languages which correctly aspirate an 'h' in speech have a common factor in that
in every case there is evidence of Carthaginian/Iberian/Celtic progenitors.
There is in addition when translated using a roman alphabet a sibilant pronunciation of most word formations commencing with the letter 'x', e.g. xthet and xocolac
Another typical feature of this language is that this letter 'l' in pronunciation would form the equivalent of a glottal stop unless placed at the beginning of a word formation.
Influence of proto-Punic and neo-Punic can be plainly identified in spoken languages of those types even where there is limited written evidence, although there is some which survives to this day. e.g. Hanno's first speech at the beginning of scene V of Plautus Poenulus:
yth alonim ualonuth sicorathi symacom syth chy mlachthi
in ythmum ysthyalm ych-ibarcu mysehi li pho caneth yth bynuthi
uad edin byn ui bymarob syllohom alonim ubymysyrthohom
byth limmoth ynnocho thuulech-antidamas chon ys sidobrim
chi fel yth chyl is chon chen liful yth binim ys dybur ch-innocho-tnu mehashabim
yth emanethi hy chirs aelichot sithi nasot
bynu yid ch-illuch ily gubulim lasibithim
bodi aly thera ynnynu yslym min cho-th iusim.
yth alonim ualoniuth sicorathi isthym himihym macomsyth
lech lachanna nilimniichto "
A further documentation attributes this oath to Barcid family leaders
"hialpi mer sva Melqart, ok Eschmoun, ok hin almattki an Panit"
From canaanite writings there is clear Punic verse:
"aesneth karith nago, ualkah um ubefo, karith an shem"
There is so much more to learn and this page warrants massive expansion.
Active interest and considered contribution will add so much to present day understanding of this fascinating language which has influenced so many others.

Contents

See also

See also

★ Punic