Adam Bremer-McCollum
@acbm.bsky.social
Aramaics, Coptic, Gəʕəz, Arabic, Iran. langs, Turk. langs, Old Georgian, Old Armenian 🎸🌱🍄☕️
Research Assoc., CSWR/HDS
Texts & Translations of Transcendence & Transformation (4T) https://tinyurl.com/494v9n59
The Pearlsong https://tinyurl.com/msajp4ut
Research Assoc., CSWR/HDS
Texts & Translations of Transcendence & Transformation (4T) https://tinyurl.com/494v9n59
The Pearlsong https://tinyurl.com/msajp4ut
Bar Bahlul's entry (col. 936) on ܠܒܐ /lebbå/ ❤️
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
February 14, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Bar Bahlul's entry (col. 936) on ܠܒܐ /lebbå/ ❤️
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
"if it's about a person, it means 'heart [/qalb/], understanding [/fuʔād/],' and if it's about the sea, it means 'depth [/qaʕr/], abyss [/luǧǧah/],' [Syr] 'the heart of the sea.'"
[Syr /bar lebbå/, Arb /labab/]
"upper chest; chest strap"
Barhebraeus in the 13th century on Uyghur script being adapted for Mongolian:
February 13, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Barhebraeus in the 13th century on Uyghur script being adapted for Mongolian:
How to say hauberk and corslet in Syriac and Arabic according to Bar Bahlul (10th cent) [with help from Iranian vocabulary; NB also Syr ܬܢܘܪܐ /tannurå/]
February 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM
How to say hauberk and corslet in Syriac and Arabic according to Bar Bahlul (10th cent) [with help from Iranian vocabulary; NB also Syr ܬܢܘܪܐ /tannurå/]
For Darwin's birthday, here's a paragraph I translated into Syriac in 2012. No doubt I'd do some of it differently now, but fwiw:
February 12, 2026 at 10:01 PM
For Darwin's birthday, here's a paragraph I translated into Syriac in 2012. No doubt I'd do some of it differently now, but fwiw:
Here's Abuladze's edition
February 12, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Here's Abuladze's edition
Old Georgian word of the day
ამბორ(ი)ს-ყოფა
"kiss"
cf. Pa /ambōy-/, Sgd /anβēδ-/, Arm համբոյր
ამბორ(ი)ს-ყოფა
"kiss"
cf. Pa /ambōy-/, Sgd /anβēδ-/, Arm համբոյր
February 11, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Old Georgian word of the day
ამბორ(ი)ს-ყოფა
"kiss"
cf. Pa /ambōy-/, Sgd /anβēδ-/, Arm համբոյր
ამბორ(ი)ს-ყოფა
"kiss"
cf. Pa /ambōy-/, Sgd /anβēδ-/, Arm համբոյր
Now up to 55 pages and 659 example phrases & sentences 😎
February 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Now up to 55 pages and 659 example phrases & sentences 😎
Old Armenian word of the day
համա(րա)կար
fiscal/tax official
as in Yazdbōzēd, Peeters, 206.21-23
Եւ տեսեալ կնոջ համակարին՝ մեծ գոհութիւն առաքէ սպասաւորաց սքանչելագործ սուրբ խաչին։
"When the master of coin's wife saw it, she sent sincere thanks to the servants of the wonder-working, holy cross."
համա(րա)կար
fiscal/tax official
as in Yazdbōzēd, Peeters, 206.21-23
Եւ տեսեալ կնոջ համակարին՝ մեծ գոհութիւն առաքէ սպասաւորաց սքանչելագործ սուրբ խաչին։
"When the master of coin's wife saw it, she sent sincere thanks to the servants of the wonder-working, holy cross."
February 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Old Armenian word of the day
համա(րա)կար
fiscal/tax official
as in Yazdbōzēd, Peeters, 206.21-23
Եւ տեսեալ կնոջ համակարին՝ մեծ գոհութիւն առաքէ սպասաւորաց սքանչելագործ սուրբ խաչին։
"When the master of coin's wife saw it, she sent sincere thanks to the servants of the wonder-working, holy cross."
համա(րա)կար
fiscal/tax official
as in Yazdbōzēd, Peeters, 206.21-23
Եւ տեսեալ կնոջ համակարին՝ մեծ գոհութիւն առաքէ սպասաւորաց սքանչելագործ սուրբ խաչին։
"When the master of coin's wife saw it, she sent sincere thanks to the servants of the wonder-working, holy cross."
ܫܘܢܪܐ ܫܦܝܪܐ ܘܚܘܪܐ ܘܐܦ ܣܡܝܢܐ
February 4, 2026 at 4:09 AM
ܫܘܢܪܐ ܫܦܝܪܐ ܘܚܘܪܐ ܘܐܦ ܣܡܝܢܐ
In the first line below (i.e. on the right, ⬇️), after 无元 wú yuán "without origin", you can see 真主阿羅訶 zhēnzhǔ āluóhē "the real Lord, Allaha," the last word ≈ Syriac ܐܠܗܐ /ʔallåhå/.
Editions of the text generally give 無元, using 無 instead of its variant 无, which is actually what's engraved.
Editions of the text generally give 無元, using 無 instead of its variant 无, which is actually what's engraved.
February 3, 2026 at 6:04 PM
In the first line below (i.e. on the right, ⬇️), after 无元 wú yuán "without origin", you can see 真主阿羅訶 zhēnzhǔ āluóhē "the real Lord, Allaha," the last word ≈ Syriac ܐܠܗܐ /ʔallåhå/.
Editions of the text generally give 無元, using 無 instead of its variant 无, which is actually what's engraved.
Editions of the text generally give 無元, using 無 instead of its variant 无, which is actually what's engraved.
Some sights from CUA in snowy Washington DC last week
February 2, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Some sights from CUA in snowy Washington DC last week
A three-part Old Uyghur noun phrase for a king's terrorizing enforcers (from *U 9175 p4.10-11)
/bukagulukčı ölütči yargan-lar/
imprisoner murderer henchman-PL
/bukagulukčı ölütči yargan-lar/
imprisoner murderer henchman-PL
January 27, 2026 at 3:29 AM
A three-part Old Uyghur noun phrase for a king's terrorizing enforcers (from *U 9175 p4.10-11)
/bukagulukčı ölütči yargan-lar/
imprisoner murderer henchman-PL
/bukagulukčı ölütči yargan-lar/
imprisoner murderer henchman-PL
Here's /kudug/ at the end of a line, followed by an extra <g> as Zeilenfüller
January 27, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Here's /kudug/ at the end of a line, followed by an extra <g> as Zeilenfüller
I'm giving a talk in DC (CUA) this Friday on Old Uyghur. Check it out, if you're around and interested!
RSVP here forms.gle/WhMQfr2UqbbU...
RSVP here forms.gle/WhMQfr2UqbbU...
January 26, 2026 at 1:41 PM
I'm giving a talk in DC (CUA) this Friday on Old Uyghur. Check it out, if you're around and interested!
RSVP here forms.gle/WhMQfr2UqbbU...
RSVP here forms.gle/WhMQfr2UqbbU...
Old Uyghur word of the day
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
January 23, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Old Uyghur word of the day
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
/yumgak/
"lump, chunk, ball, piece"
as in *U 9175 (T II B 29) [lost; images in Müller, Uigurica, 1908]
/bir yumgak tašıg/
"a chunk of stone"
Old Uyghur word of the day
/tut-/
"hold, keep"
as in U 41 v 3-5
/ornags(ı)z ekirčgü köŋül tutmakda özin tarkaru tutar/
"they hold back and restrain themselves from maintaining an indecisive, doubtful mind"
/tut-/
"hold, keep"
as in U 41 v 3-5
/ornags(ı)z ekirčgü köŋül tutmakda özin tarkaru tutar/
"they hold back and restrain themselves from maintaining an indecisive, doubtful mind"
January 20, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Old Uyghur word of the day
/tut-/
"hold, keep"
as in U 41 v 3-5
/ornags(ı)z ekirčgü köŋül tutmakda özin tarkaru tutar/
"they hold back and restrain themselves from maintaining an indecisive, doubtful mind"
/tut-/
"hold, keep"
as in U 41 v 3-5
/ornags(ı)z ekirčgü köŋül tutmakda özin tarkaru tutar/
"they hold back and restrain themselves from maintaining an indecisive, doubtful mind"
Here's /nirvan-lıg/ (U 4796, end of l. 18) and /ıntın kıdıg-ka ärtgäli uyur/ (l. 19)
January 19, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Here's /nirvan-lıg/ (U 4796, end of l. 18) and /ıntın kıdıg-ka ärtgäli uyur/ (l. 19)
Finished yesterday. Tune in for motives & trajectories of drug laws in the US (and beyond, thanks to US influence), shifting conceptions of what “drugs” means, the wielding of Xn (esp. Protestant) power fueled by eugenics & confessional racism, and unexamined generational judicial & law enf. norms.
January 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Finished yesterday. Tune in for motives & trajectories of drug laws in the US (and beyond, thanks to US influence), shifting conceptions of what “drugs” means, the wielding of Xn (esp. Protestant) power fueled by eugenics & confessional racism, and unexamined generational judicial & law enf. norms.
Old Uyghur word of the day
/kay/
street
here from U 2973, side 1, line 2
/kay-da/
"in the street"
/kay/ is a Chinese loanword: 街 jiē (Middle Chin. kea, keaj)
/kay/
street
here from U 2973, side 1, line 2
/kay-da/
"in the street"
/kay/ is a Chinese loanword: 街 jiē (Middle Chin. kea, keaj)
January 18, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Old Uyghur word of the day
/kay/
street
here from U 2973, side 1, line 2
/kay-da/
"in the street"
/kay/ is a Chinese loanword: 街 jiē (Middle Chin. kea, keaj)
/kay/
street
here from U 2973, side 1, line 2
/kay-da/
"in the street"
/kay/ is a Chinese loanword: 街 jiē (Middle Chin. kea, keaj)
My document of grammatically classified, cited, and translated Old Georgian examples (from regular reading & from occasional TITUS searches) now numbers over 450, with a few more topics still to be done. (Here are a few exx for particles)
January 17, 2026 at 5:05 PM
My document of grammatically classified, cited, and translated Old Georgian examples (from regular reading & from occasional TITUS searches) now numbers over 450, with a few more topics still to be done. (Here are a few exx for particles)
"Well the cool breeze came on Tuesday
And the corn's a bumper crop
And the fields are full of dancing
Full of singing and romancing
The music never stopped"
And the corn's a bumper crop
And the fields are full of dancing
Full of singing and romancing
The music never stopped"
January 11, 2026 at 3:02 PM
"Well the cool breeze came on Tuesday
And the corn's a bumper crop
And the fields are full of dancing
Full of singing and romancing
The music never stopped"
And the corn's a bumper crop
And the fields are full of dancing
Full of singing and romancing
The music never stopped"
BB 1362 on /sanwartå/:
"A helmet made of Mervian iron, a helmet; others say, a skullcap. Acc. to Bar Serošvai, an iron head covering that goes by this name, since it refers to a head-sanwartå. An iron helmet. A sanwartå-ache is a serious headache in the top of your skull. Bronze helmet…"
"A helmet made of Mervian iron, a helmet; others say, a skullcap. Acc. to Bar Serošvai, an iron head covering that goes by this name, since it refers to a head-sanwartå. An iron helmet. A sanwartå-ache is a serious headache in the top of your skull. Bronze helmet…"
January 9, 2026 at 5:23 PM
BB 1362 on /sanwartå/:
"A helmet made of Mervian iron, a helmet; others say, a skullcap. Acc. to Bar Serošvai, an iron head covering that goes by this name, since it refers to a head-sanwartå. An iron helmet. A sanwartå-ache is a serious headache in the top of your skull. Bronze helmet…"
"A helmet made of Mervian iron, a helmet; others say, a skullcap. Acc. to Bar Serošvai, an iron head covering that goes by this name, since it refers to a head-sanwartå. An iron helmet. A sanwartå-ache is a serious headache in the top of your skull. Bronze helmet…"
Old Turkic word of the day
/kapan/
"basin, bowl, plate, tray" (cf. 盆 pén)
as in the Magi text, p2, ll. 4-5 (image from Müller, ms now lost)
/bir kapan-da urup kigürdi-lär/
"they set (the gifts) on a tray and brought them in"
/kapan/
"basin, bowl, plate, tray" (cf. 盆 pén)
as in the Magi text, p2, ll. 4-5 (image from Müller, ms now lost)
/bir kapan-da urup kigürdi-lär/
"they set (the gifts) on a tray and brought them in"
January 6, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Old Turkic word of the day
/kapan/
"basin, bowl, plate, tray" (cf. 盆 pén)
as in the Magi text, p2, ll. 4-5 (image from Müller, ms now lost)
/bir kapan-da urup kigürdi-lär/
"they set (the gifts) on a tray and brought them in"
/kapan/
"basin, bowl, plate, tray" (cf. 盆 pén)
as in the Magi text, p2, ll. 4-5 (image from Müller, ms now lost)
/bir kapan-da urup kigürdi-lär/
"they set (the gifts) on a tray and brought them in"
Some recently added records, with at least two WSB cameos
January 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Some recently added records, with at least two WSB cameos