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Lin, Chia-Wei

@chiaweilin.bsky.social

710 followers 800 following 80 posts

Assistante diplômée & doctorante @Université de Lausanne. Historical linguistics, language contact, indigenous grammatical traditions, Christian and Buddhist translations on the Silk Road. Working on Barlaam&Josaphat. https://unil.academia.edu/chiaweilin

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · Apr 4

Inspired by amazing @acbm.bsky.social and @lcbmphd.bsky.social, I am planning an online Pali jātaka reading group. We will begin with the ten best-known jātaka stories in the Southeast Asian tradition.(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mah%C4%...)

Anyone with a basic knowledge of Sanskrit or Middle Indic

Mahānipāta Jātaka - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 21h

The Pearlsong book launch will be Oct 20, 5:30-7:00pm Boston time, in-person at Harvard, or by Zoom. I'll give a talk, but more importantly, so will Dr. Erin Walsh, and there will be music composed for the event by Jane Sheldon! More details and registration here:

Calendar | Center for the Study of World Religions

cswr.hds.harvard.edu

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Mark Shockley @shjsat.bsky.social · 2d

I got dissatisfied with Versteegh's table on Arabic verbs, so I made a much worse table using Wright's Grammar

I-a faʕala tr. kataba to write
I-a faʕala intr. ǧalasa to sit
I-i faʕila usually intr. fariḥa to be glad
I-u faʕula intr., permanent qualities kabura to be large
II faʕʕala intensive qatala to kill > qattala to massacre
II faʕʕala intensive (temporally extensive, iterative) ǧāla to go round > ǧawwala to go round much or often
II faʕʕala intensive (numerically extensive) māta to die > mawwata l-mālu the cattle died off rapidly or in great numbers
II faʕʕala causative (intr. I > tr. II) fariḥa to be glad > farraḥa to gladden
II faʕʕala causative (tr. I > ditr. II) ḥamala to carry > ḥammala to make carry
II faʕʕala estimative kaḏaba to lie > kaḏḏaba to think or call one a liar
II faʕʕala denominal ḫayyama to pitch a tent (ḫaymatun), to dwell in a place
II faʕʕala performing a speech act sallama ʕalayhi he said to him salām ʕalayka (peace be upon thee)
II faʕʕala movement towards a place šarraqa to go to the east (al-šarqu)
III fāʕala tr. I > III is an attempt (often involving reciprocity) qatalahu he killed him > qātalahu he (tried to kill him or) fought with him
III fāʕala the IO of I is the DO of III (reciprocity is implied) kataba ʔilà l-maliki he wrote (a letter) to the king > kātaba l-malika he wrote
III fāʕala the IO of IV is the DO of III (reciprocity is implied) to the king, corresponded with him
ʔarsala ʔilà l-sulṭāni he sent (a message) to the sultan > rāsala s-sulṭāna he
sent (a message) to the sultan
III fāʕala stative I > III makes use of that state ḥasana to be good or kind > ḥāsanahu he treated him kindly
III fāʕala denominal (effort and reciprocity are implied) ʕāfiyatun robust health > ʕāfāka llāhu may God keep thee safe and well
III fāʕala III = IV (a few verbs) dāḫala = ʔadḫala he brought him in

IV ʔafʕala causative (intr. I > tr. IV) ǧalasa to sit down > ʔaǧlasa to bid one sit down
IV ʔafʕala causative (tr. I > ditr. IV) ʔakala l-ḫubza he ate bread > ʔākalahu l-ḫubza he gave him bread to eat
IV ʔafʕala causative II ≠ causative IV ʕalima to know > ʕallama to teach > ʔaʕlama to inform one of a thing
IV ʔafʕala causative II = causative IV naǧā to escape > naǧǧà to let go > ʔanǧà to let go
IV ʔafʕala estimative (like Form II) ʔaǧnabahu he thought him, or found him to be, cowardly
IV ʔafʕala denominal (intr.) ʔaṯmara to bear fruit (ṯamarun)
IV ʔafʕala denominal, indicating movement ʔaymana to go to Yemen
IV ʔafʕala entering a time period ʔaṣbaḥa to enter upon the time of morning (aṣ-ṣabāḥu)
IV ʔafʕala obtaining or having something ʔaǧmala to have many camels
IV ʔafʕala becoming a certain state or condition ʔaqfara to become desert
IV ʔafʕala removing something (a few verbs) ʔaḫfara to break one’s compact with a person
IV hafʕala a rare variant is hafʕala (a few verbs) harāda ~ ʔarāda to wish
IV safʕala a rare variant is safʕala (?) (a few verbs) salqà ~ ʔalqà to throw down flat on the back
V tafaʕʕala reflexive of II takassara to be broken in pieces
V tafaʕʕala intensive (V = VIII) tafarraqa n-nāsu = iftaraqa n-nāsu the people dispersed
V tafaʕʕala reflexive (with DO or IO) tabaṣṣara to look at long or repeatedly, to examine or study
V tafaʕʕala V = II (a few verbs) taqawwasa = qawwasa
V tafaʕʕala causative (whether caused by the subject or another) ʕalima to know > ʕallama to teach > taʕallama to become learned, to learn
V itfaʕʕala variant form of tafaʕʕala (no examples)
VI tafāʕala reflexive of III (often translated as passive) bāʕadtuhu I kept him aloof > tabāʕad he kept (or staid) aloof
VI tafāʕala reciprocity is necessary in Form VI qātalahu he fought with him > taqātalā the two fought with one another
VI tafāʕala reflexive, used of God (a few optative verbs) tabāraka llāhu God has made Himself blessed
VI tafāʕala reflexive, used of humans (a few verbs) t…

VI tafāʕala VI may be iterative (implying pains) tasāqaṭa to fall piece by piece
VI itfāʕala variant form of tafāʕala (no examples)
VII infaʕala middle or reflexive of I inkasara to break (intrans.), to be broken
VII infaʕala sometimes passivity is implied inhazama to let oneself be put to flight, to flee
VII infaʕala reflexive of IV (sometimes) ʔaġlaqa to bolt > inġalaqa to be bolted
VIII iftaʕala the reflex object may be the DO ... faraqa to divide > iftaraqa to go asunder, to part
VIII iftaʕala … or the IO kasaba = iktasaba to earn one’s living
VIII iftaʕala VIII is sometimes reciprocal (like VI) iqtatala n-nāsu = taqātala n-nāsu the people fought with one another
VIII iftaʕala passive (sometimes, if the verb has no VII) intaṣara to be helped (by God), to be victorious
VIII iftaʕala I ≈ VIII (some verbs) ḫaṭifa ≈ iḫtaṭafa to snatch away, to carry off by force
IX ifʕalla colours and defects (intensive) iṣfarra to be yellow
IX ifʕalala final glides iḥwawà to be blackish brown or blackish green
X istafʕala reflexive or middle of IV ʔaslama to give up, deliver over > istaslama to give oneself up
X istafʕala estimative (the state meant by I) istaṯqala to find it heavy, oppressive, or troublesome, to think one a bore
X istafʕala seeking (the action meant by I) ġafara to pardon > istaġfara to ask pardon
X istafʕala reflexive istaqāma to stand upright, lit. to hold oneself upright
X istafʕala denominal (uniting causative and reflexive meanings) istaḫlafa to appoint one as deputy, successor, or caliph (ḫalīfatun)
XI ifʕālla colours and defects (intensive) iṣfārra to be yellow
XI ifʕālala if the third radical is /w/ or /y/ it takes this form iḥwāwà to be blackish brown or blackish green
XII ifʕawʕala XII = I ḥalika = iḥlawlaka to be jet black
XII ifʕawʕala XII = IX iḫḍarra = iḫḍawḍara to become blackish brown or blackish green
XIII ifʕawwala a rare form, shown by example only iḫrawwaṭa to be long or last long, to go quickly
XIV ifʕanlala a rare form, shown by example only …

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 3d

Coptic (L4) word of the day
ⲛⲁⲏⲧ
"merciful" (NB the verb ⲛⲁⲉ "have mercy," the noun ⲛⲁ "mercy")

as in CBKph (ed. Gardner, BeDuhn, Dilley) 346.5-9

ⲉⲩ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲛⲁⲃⲉ ⲉⲧⲁⲡⲟⲩⲱⲱⲛϣ̅ ⲉⲉϥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲧⲉⲧⲛⲟⲩⲱϣ ϩⲁⲧⲃⲉϥ ⲧⲏⲣⲧⲛⲉ …
ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅ϭⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲁⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲃⲟⲏⲑⲟⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ϩⲙⲁⲥⲧ̅ ϩⲓⲧϥ̅ⲉϩⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲧⲏⲕ ⲁⲣⲉⲧⲟⲩ

Eng. tr. ⬇️

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 5d

Coptic (L4) word of the day
ⲧⲥⲉⲃⲟ, ⲧⲥⲉⲃⲁ/ⲟ⸗
"teach"

as in CBKph 423.26-27 (ed. Gardner, BeDuhn, Dilley)
ⲁⲩⲧⲥⲉⲃⲁⲩ ⲁⲧⲭⲱⲣⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲁⲓ̈ⲛⲉ ⲧϩⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲥϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲥ
ⲁⲩⲧⲥⲉⲃⲁⲩ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲉⲙⲛⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲙⲁ ⲉⲧϥ̅ϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧϥ̅

"they taught them what the land of light is like;
they taught them, too, about hell and where it is"

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 6d

Old Uyghur word of the day
/kıdıg/
"shore, bank"

as in Diam. Sutra, ed. Zieme, A₂ 18-19

/köŋüllärin amırtgurup nırvanlıg ıntın kıdıgka ärtgäli uyur/

"they will be able to give their hearts rest to cross over to nirvana's shore on the other side."

ms image: turfan.bbaw.de/dta/u/images...

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 12d

Dr. Krisztina Szilágyi is teaching a short course on Christian Arabic texts & manuscripts, January 6-15, 2026 (Westminster College, Cambridge)

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Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · 12d

Weekly Georgian Etymology: კალათა ḳalata 'basket', from late Old Georgian ႩႠႪႠႧႨ ḳalati, from Greek κάλαθος basket, probably from Akkadian 𒄭𒆷𒌅 ḫallatum basket for transporting goods, from Sumerian 𒂁𒄬 hal pot, basket.

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Lydia Bremer-McCollum @lcbmphd.bsky.social · 19d

Late Antiquity Friends:
Came across a curious detail in Martyrdom Victor. Angels wrap Victor's soul in a fine-linen-cloth before ascent. Do you know of other examples?
"ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲯⲩⲭⲏ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲉⲁⲩⲥⲟⲩⲉⲗⲟⲩⲱⲗⲥ ϩⲛϩⲉⲛⲙⲁⲡⲡⲁ ⲛϣⲛⲥ/He saw that they wrapped the soul of Apa Victor in a linen cloth"(89.8)

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 21d

Old Georgian word of the day
ფურცელი
leaf

as in Hippolytus, Comm. Song of Songs (ed. Garitte), 62.17-18

არღარა ფურცელი ლეღჳსაჲ მისა სამოსელ, არამედ სულისა წმიდისა მიერ შემოსილ

"a fig leaf is no longer her garment: rather, she's clothed by the holy spirit"

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 22d

Old Georgian word of the day
განზავებული mixed (განზავება mix)

as in Hippolytus, Comm. Song of Songs (ed. Garitte), 62.8-9
სუ ვითარცა ღჳნოჲ … ახალი სასუმელი განზავებული
"like wine, drink … a new mixed drink"

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · 22d

SEA doublets of the day:

Vietnamese bát 'bowl' < Chin. 缽 bō, clipping of 缽多羅 bō dō luó < Skt. pātra

Khmer : បាត្រ <pā.tra> [ɓaːt] 'alms bowl (of a Buddhist monk)' < Skt. pātra

Both words are ultimately from Sanskrit, but while Khmer borrowed it directly, the Vietnamese form entered through Chinese.

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · 23d

cf. Tai Chung Pui 2008, 西夏文佛经残片的藏文对音研究, Fragment 17.

Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · 23d

Tangut word of the day:

𗍥𘟙 ghəh¹ ne² ‘diamond’ (per Gong Xun 202411), transcribed here as rgi ne, literally 'stone-king', a calque of Tibetan rdo rje '(lit.) stone-king; diamond'.

📷: British Library Or. 12380/1842: Tangut manuscript with phonetic glosses in Tibetan script
idp.bl.uk/collection/3...

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · 26d

Old Georgian word of the day
ცადება let, allow, grant

Limonarion, ed. Abuladze, 4.22
მაცადეთ უკუე სამ დღე
"okay, give me three days"

მ-ა-ცად-ე-თ aor imv 2p O1

For more, including a Lynyrd Skynyrd reference and a cool painting by Nicholas Roerich, see here:

Gimme three days: a procrastinating monk (in Georgian) | fringe philology

www.patreon.com

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · 29d

My presentation on Arabic–Old Georgian translations at the 35. Deutscher Orientalistentag in Erlangen. As always, I would really appreciate any suggestions, feedback, or critiques. 😊

www.academia.edu/129935394/Di...

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Sep 10

Gəʕəz word of the day
ገፍዐ፡
/gäfʕä/
"press, push"

as in BL Or. 686, ff. 170vc-171ra
መጽአኒ፡ኃይል፡ዘይገፍዓኒ፡ወያገብአኒ፡ድኅረ፡እስከ፡ኢይክል፡በዊአ፡
"a force met me and was pushing me, turning me back, so that I couldn't go in"

NB: *ʔi-ʔəkəl (neg 1s) > /ʔiyəkəl/ ኢይክል፡, which looks and sounds just like /ʔi-yəkəl/ (3ms)

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Sep 9

Gəʕəz word of the day
ሀፍ፡
/häf/
"sweat"

as in the life of Mary of Egypt, ed. Pereira, 9.5-6
ውስተ፡ምድር፡እንዘ፡ያንጸፈጽፍ፡ሐፉ፡ወኢይክል፡ነቢበ፡
"with his sweat dripping onto the ground, and he couldn't speak"

Also note the verb ያንጸፈጽፍ፡ /yanṣäfäṣṣəf/, anQ dur 3ms √ṣfṣf (cogn. w/ Heb לטפטף, etc.).

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · Sep 10

I gave a presentation this week at the Deutscher Orientalistentag in Erlangen on the orthography of Indic loanwords in Mainland Southeast Asian languages. Suggestions, feedback, and critiques are most welcome!

www.academia.edu/143880454/To...

Towards a typology of orthography of Indic loanwords in Mainland Southeast Asian Languages (35. Deutscher Orientalistentag, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen, 10.09.2025)

Mainland Southeast Asian languages have been greatly influence from Pali and Sanskrit through the spread of Buddhism. This is reflected both in the writing systems — the major writing systems (Mon, Bu...

www.academia.edu

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Sep 6

This week I finished typesetting the next 4T book, Fabien Muller on Porphyry's Letter to Anebo & Philosophy from Oracles: Greek & Latin fragments, Eng. translations, glossaries, and short commentary.

Stay tuned if you're interested in gods and daemons, theurgy, and oracles in dactylic hexameter!

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Aug 30

Old Armenian word of the day
կշռեմ
"weigh, measure, calculate"

Arm. tr. of Evagrius's letters (ed. Young & Karapetyan) 16.5
թէ խաւսի՝ կշրէ զխաւսսն
"if the monk talks, the demon weighs his words"

կշռեմ derives from կշիռ, կշռոց "balance, scale(s)" (distantly, cf. Akk /gišrinnu/ and Sum /ŋešrin/)

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Sep 1

Syriac word of the day
ܣܟܪ
/sḵar/
"close up, block off, shut"

as in Vat. sir. 160, f. 93rb

ܣܟܘܪ ܦܘܡܟ ܪܫܝܥܐ ܘܒܥܠܕܒܒܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܘܠܐ ܬܘܣܦ ܬܘܒ ܦܬܓܡܐ ܗܢܐ ܣܢܝܐ ܠܡܡܠܠܘ

"Shut your trap, you god-hating degenerate, and don't drag out the diatribe!"

Manuscript images here
digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Vat...

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Thomas Wier @trwier.bsky.social · Sep 1

Weekly Georgian Etymology: მაყალი maq̇ali 'open coal fire, grill', from late Middle Georgian, from colloquial Ottoman Turkish منقل ma(n)qal brazier, from Arabic مِنْقَل minqal brazier, from Proto-Semitic *NQL transfer, move. Originally referred to a portable light/heat source.

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · Sep 1

appears in the full names of both Bangkok and Phnom Penh (Khmer មហានគរ / Thai มหานคร), from Skt. mahānagara ‘the great city’.

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Lin, Chia-Wei @chiaweilin.bsky.social · Sep 1

Khmer word of the day:

អង្គរ [ʔɑŋ.ˈkɔː] Angkor in អង្គរវត្ត Angkor Wat is from Skt. nagara 'city', with metathesis of the first syllable (na > aṅ).

A doublet of this word, Khmer នគរ [nɔ.ˈkɔː] and Thai นคร [na˦˥.kʰɔːn˧]

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📷 www.persee.fr/doc/befeo_03...

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Adam Bremer-McCollum @acbm.bsky.social · Aug 28

Old Uyghur word of the day
/yinčü/ (< 真珠 zhēnzhū)
"pearl"

U 1880, side 1, ll. 5-6 (cf. Zieme, "Poor Man in Byzantium," p. 41)

/sansız sakıš-sız a[l]kınčsız tälim ärdini yinčü/
"their many countless, endless jewels and pearls"

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