Lesson 8
Mbatlane, syame, and punctuation
◌݇
Mbaṯlane
A diagonal line placed on top of a letter to indicate that the letter is silent. An example can be found in the word "ܣܹܗ݇ܪܵܐ (sera)," meaning moon. In this word the letter ܗ (heh) is silent, which is indicated by the mbaṯlane placed on top of it.
◌̈
Syame
Two dots placed next to each other on top of a letter to indicate that the word is plural. An example can be found in the word "ܕܸܒ̈ܵܬ̣ܵܐ (dibatha)," meaning bears. In this word the letter ܒ (beth) has a syame on top of it to indicate the the word is plural.
.
Period
A dot placed at the end of a sentence to indicate that the sentence is over. Works the same as in English.
,
Comma
A small diagonal line placed to indicate a break in a sentence. Works the same as in English.
!
Exclamation Mark
A mark placed at the end of a sentence to indicate that the sentence is over, and that the sentence is to be read in an excitable tone. Works the same as in English.
؟
Question Mark
A mark placed at the end of a question to indicate that the question is over. Works the same as in English, however the symbol is mirrored as Chaldean is read from right to left.
Practice
A. Read the following aloud to practice reading real words in Chaldean, check the English transliteration at the bottom of
the page for the answers.
ܐ. ܫܹܥ݇ܬ̣ܵܐ
ܒ. ܚ̰ܲܖ݀݇ܒ̣ܫܵܒܵܐ
ܓ. ܓܘܼܡ̈ܠܸܐ
ܕ. ܓ̰ܘܼܠ̈ܠܸܐ
Answers
A.
- shetha (clock)
- khawshaba (Sunday)
- goomli (camels)
- Joolli (clothes)