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Conference "Rethinking Proto-Semitic - Approaches and Methodology"

2-3 April 2025

Venue: Hörsaal of CNMS (Groundfloor), Deutschhaustraße 12, 35032 Marburg
Papers duration: 20 minutes + 10 minutes for questions
Kick-off speeches: 10 minutes
Panel discussions: 60 minutes max

Current Programm

1st April, evening

19:00   Warm-up dinner at Colosseo (Deutschhausstraße 35)

2nd April

9:00   Welcome address, technical remarks

9:15   Session: Phonology and Morphology (chair: M. Kümmel)

  • L. Kogan: What can we learn from Eblaite on Proto-Semitic morphology
  • M. Bulakh: Intercalated *a as a plural marker in Soqotri and its implications for the reconstruction of Proto-Semitic
  • B. Suchard: Rethinking the Proto-Semitic Stative
  • A. Al-Jallad:  Revisiting the post-verbal morphemes *-u and *-n(V) in Semitic: A proposal for a unified theory

11:15   Coffee break

11:45   Discussion: Phonology (chair: E. Cohen)

  • Kick-off speech: M. Kümmel
  • Panel discussion: M. Kümmel, L. Kogan, A. Al-Jallad

13:00-14:00   Lunch

14:00   Session: Methodology (chair: M. Cysouw)

  • M. Waltisberg: Issues of reconstructive methodology in Semitics
  • L. Edzard: Linguistic divergence and convergence in Arabic and Semitic revisited
  • V. Tsukanova: What Can Modern Arabic Dialects Reveal About the Etymology of the L-Stem in Semitic?

15:30   Coffee break

16:00   Discussion: Methodology (chair: A. Rubin)

  • Kick-off speech: t.b.a.
  • Panel discussion: R. Hasselbach-Andee, E. Cohen, R. Voigt

Dinner at Zur Sonne (Markt 14)

3rd April

9:00   Session: Morphosyntax (chair: R. Hasselbach-Andee)

  • E. Cohen: Semitic k-based similative particles 
  • N. Pat-El: "Comparing nominal morphology: beyond lexical isoglosses" or "Homomorphs and reconstruction"
  • R. Voigt: N-Stämme im Semitohamitischen

10:30   Coffee break

11:00   Discussion: Morphology (chair: S. Weninger)

  • Kick-off speech: M. Cysouw: Reconstructing Morphemes
  • Panel discussion: M. Cysouw, N. Pat-El, B. Suchard

12:30-14:00   Lunch

14:00   Session: Classification, Urheimat, and further topics (chair: N. Pat-El)

  • S. Weninger: The Semitic Urheimat question: A review of the proposals and some perspectives
  • W. Sommerfeld: The Concept of a Common Semitic Cultural Area ("Kish Civilization") in the 3rd Millennium 

15:00   Coffee break

15:30   Discussion: Classification and Urheimat (chair: W. Sommerfeld)

  • Kick-off speech: A. Rubin 
  • Panel discussion: A. Rubin, L. Edzard, M. Bulakh

Farewell address

List of participants 

Prof. Dr. Ahmad Al-Jallad, The Ohio State University, Department of Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures
Prof. Dr. Maria Bulakh, HSE - National Research University,  Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies
Prof. Dr. Eran Cohen, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Linguistics
Prof. Dr. Michael Cysouw, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germanistische Sprachwissenschaft, AG Sprachtypologie und quantitative Linguistik
Prof. Dr. Lutz Edzard, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen Nürnberg, Institut für Sprachen und Kulturen des Nahen Ostens und Ostasiens
Prof. Dr. Rebecca Hasselbach-Andee, University of Chicago, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Prof. Dr. Leonid Kogan, HSE - National Research University,  Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies 
Prof. Dr. Martin Kümmel, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Orientalistik, Indogermanistik
Prof. Dr. Na’ama Pat-El, The University of Texas at Austin, Middle Eastern Studies
Prof. Dr. Aaron D. Rubin, University of Georgia, Department of Classics
Prof. (em.) Dr. Walter Sommerfeld, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, FG Altorientalistik
Dr. Benjamin Suchard, KU Leuven, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies
Dr. Vera Tsukanova, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, FG Semitistik
Prof. (em.) Dr. Rainer Voigt, Freie Universität Berlin, Seminar für Semitistik und Arabistik
Prof. Dr. Michael Waltisberg, Universität Heidelberg, Seminar für Sprachen und Kulturen des Vorderen Orients
Prof. Dr. Stefan Weninger, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, FG Semitistik