Hieroglyphic Egyptian: A Practical Grammar of Middle Egyptian

Claude OBSOMER, Sylvie Favre-Briant (Collaborator)

Research output: Book/Report/JournalBook

Abstract

This manual presents a pedagogical approach to the grammar of Middle Egyptian, the classical language of pharaonic Egypt. It is the English version of the second edition of the Grammaire pratique du Moyen Egyptien, published in 2009 in the same Series.

The first part of this grammar book is dedicated to hieroglyphs. It provides an explanation of this writing system, presenting a selection of the 200 most important signs to memorise, as well as a basic vocabulary list that is easy to learn. Another page of this webpage includes an animation showing how to draw all these signs.
The grammatical commentary begins with an overview of the main types of clauses attested. It goes on with a systematic study of nouns and associated elements (adjectives, determiners, genitive constructions, prepositions, pronouns), the examination of non-verbal clauses, for which a verb “to be” will be introduced in the English translation, and the description of suffix and non-suffix verbal forms (morphology and syntax). It closes with a summary of the uses of auxiliaries and particles.

In addition to the grammatical explanations, the work presents a series of common phrases and expressions: names of kings and individuals, a selection of anthroponyms and titles, and expressions used in traditional funerary inscriptions.
The work continues with a list of more than 800 signs, a vocabulary list of more than 2,300 words, the references to the examples quoted, and a chronological table.

The third part concludes with a series of exercises and their correct version.
Original languageEnglish
PublisherSafran
Number of pages384
ISBN (Print)978-2-87457-084-1
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Publication series

NameLangues et cultures anciennes
PublisherSafran
Volume23

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