Marijn van Putten
@phdnix.bsky.social
Historical Linguist; Working on Quranic Arabic and the linguistic history of Arabic and Tamazight. Game designer for Team18k
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Just thought I'd share with you the range of variation for , the most variable letter in vertical Libyco-Berber inscriptions (all from eastern Algeria). @phdnix.bsky.social @bnuyaminim.bsky.social @lameensouag.bsky.social
September 17, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Just thought I'd share with you the range of variation for , the most variable letter in vertical Libyco-Berber inscriptions (all from eastern Algeria). @phdnix.bsky.social @bnuyaminim.bsky.social @lameensouag.bsky.social
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Looking forward to contributing a paper to this and discussing the other papers, all of which are really strong and interesting!
If you are within driving (or flying) distance of Austin, Texas next week, do not miss this fantastic gathering 'Timelines of Arabic 4'.
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
September 17, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Looking forward to contributing a paper to this and discussing the other papers, all of which are really strong and interesting!
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
If you are within driving (or flying) distance of Austin, Texas next week, do not miss this fantastic gathering 'Timelines of Arabic 4'.
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
September 17, 2026 at 10:52 AM
If you are within driving (or flying) distance of Austin, Texas next week, do not miss this fantastic gathering 'Timelines of Arabic 4'.
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
My talk will handle the Paleo-Arabic corpus. Pic. Another angle of Abd-Shams inscr. I took during fieldwork in 2024.
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/844c04...
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
As you all know, the Musulami were the important Gaetulian group to which Tacfarinas belonged.
There may be one stela that commemorates a member of this group, RIL 808.
It comes from the ruins of Sila in the region of Sigus, south of Constantine in Algeria, and looks like this ⬇️
There may be one stela that commemorates a member of this group, RIL 808.
It comes from the ruins of Sila in the region of Sigus, south of Constantine in Algeria, and looks like this ⬇️
September 14, 2026 at 3:19 PM
As you all know, the Musulami were the important Gaetulian group to which Tacfarinas belonged.
There may be one stela that commemorates a member of this group, RIL 808.
It comes from the ruins of Sila in the region of Sigus, south of Constantine in Algeria, and looks like this ⬇️
There may be one stela that commemorates a member of this group, RIL 808.
It comes from the ruins of Sila in the region of Sigus, south of Constantine in Algeria, and looks like this ⬇️
New Open Access Article: "Nāfiʿ or Ibn ʿĀmir in al-Andalus?"
In this article I show that, contrary to the claim in a recent article by @VahidniaAla the Quranic manuscript Arabe 6982 follows the reading of Qālūn ʿan Nāfiʿ and not that of Ibn ʿĀmir.
brill.com/view/journal...
In this article I show that, contrary to the claim in a recent article by @VahidniaAla the Quranic manuscript Arabe 6982 follows the reading of Qālūn ʿan Nāfiʿ and not that of Ibn ʿĀmir.
brill.com/view/journal...
September 11, 2026 at 6:07 PM
New Open Access Article: "Nāfiʿ or Ibn ʿĀmir in al-Andalus?"
In this article I show that, contrary to the claim in a recent article by @VahidniaAla the Quranic manuscript Arabe 6982 follows the reading of Qālūn ʿan Nāfiʿ and not that of Ibn ʿĀmir.
brill.com/view/journal...
In this article I show that, contrary to the claim in a recent article by @VahidniaAla the Quranic manuscript Arabe 6982 follows the reading of Qālūn ʿan Nāfiʿ and not that of Ibn ʿĀmir.
brill.com/view/journal...
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Wikipedians really don't get enough credit
![AI overview:
History and Timeline
Origin: Hieratic emerged from the Wikipedia Hieratic script as a faster, handwritten cursive style for writing on papyrus with ink and a reed pen. [link to Wikipedia +1]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qbe3b7ljafblsyy4dhkkgj7t/bafkreiappat6p3p7wfwla3asqwrblbqm546hmtgkohi2khhqqrftduzqze)
September 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Wikipedians really don't get enough credit
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Dual pronouns for when you want to say we but your pronouns are different.
September 8, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Dual pronouns for when you want to say we but your pronouns are different.
I just heard the sad news of the passing of Professor Jan Just Witkam. Editor of the Journal of Islamic Manuscripts until very recently, and an otherwise inspiring codicologist.
I'm proud to have been a co-author on (one of?) his last publications.
doi.org/doi:10.1163/...
I'm proud to have been a co-author on (one of?) his last publications.
doi.org/doi:10.1163/...
September 5, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I just heard the sad news of the passing of Professor Jan Just Witkam. Editor of the Journal of Islamic Manuscripts until very recently, and an otherwise inspiring codicologist.
I'm proud to have been a co-author on (one of?) his last publications.
doi.org/doi:10.1163/...
I'm proud to have been a co-author on (one of?) his last publications.
doi.org/doi:10.1163/...
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
THREAD: Below is a neat word—the Ruus Al Jibal šamrūḫ = ‘the stalk of a bunch of dates’ (or something like that).
Its Classical form is šumrūḫ. If I recall, @phdnix.bsky.social has shown that Cv₁CCv̄₂C > Cv₂CCv̄₂C (in a pre-Classical dialect?),…
Its Classical form is šumrūḫ. If I recall, @phdnix.bsky.social has shown that Cv₁CCv̄₂C > Cv₂CCv̄₂C (in a pre-Classical dialect?),…
Ruus Al Jibal Arabic wotd
شمروخ
šamrūḫ*
'a stalk of the date palm raceme† (with or without dates on it)'
___________
* The Standard Arabic word is شُمْرُوخ šumrūḫ.
† As far as I know, "raceme" is the correct term for the whole "bunch" of dates (called an عذق in Arabic).
شمروخ
šamrūḫ*
'a stalk of the date palm raceme† (with or without dates on it)'
___________
* The Standard Arabic word is شُمْرُوخ šumrūḫ.
† As far as I know, "raceme" is the correct term for the whole "bunch" of dates (called an عذق in Arabic).
September 1, 2026 at 1:27 PM
THREAD: Below is a neat word—the Ruus Al Jibal šamrūḫ = ‘the stalk of a bunch of dates’ (or something like that).
Its Classical form is šumrūḫ. If I recall, @phdnix.bsky.social has shown that Cv₁CCv̄₂C > Cv₂CCv̄₂C (in a pre-Classical dialect?),…
Its Classical form is šumrūḫ. If I recall, @phdnix.bsky.social has shown that Cv₁CCv̄₂C > Cv₂CCv̄₂C (in a pre-Classical dialect?),…
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
My official start date is tomorrow but who can wait? I've just published the first update in my work on a new Umda edition, setting down the groundwork to begin with. Comments and questions welcome.
majnouna.com/2026/08/31/u...
Password: notBad1s
#medievalmanuscripts #medievalsky
majnouna.com/2026/08/31/u...
Password: notBad1s
#medievalmanuscripts #medievalsky
August 31, 2026 at 10:25 AM
My official start date is tomorrow but who can wait? I've just published the first update in my work on a new Umda edition, setting down the groundwork to begin with. Comments and questions welcome.
majnouna.com/2026/08/31/u...
Password: notBad1s
#medievalmanuscripts #medievalsky
majnouna.com/2026/08/31/u...
Password: notBad1s
#medievalmanuscripts #medievalsky
In 2025 @bnuyaminim.bsky.social and me taught a course on Comparative Semitics at the Leiden Summer School. After some cleaning up, we've decided to upload the syllabus and release it under a CC license for you and yours to peruse through.
doi.org/10.17613/b4z...
doi.org/10.17613/b4z...
August 27, 2026 at 1:02 PM
In 2025 @bnuyaminim.bsky.social and me taught a course on Comparative Semitics at the Leiden Summer School. After some cleaning up, we've decided to upload the syllabus and release it under a CC license for you and yours to peruse through.
doi.org/10.17613/b4z...
doi.org/10.17613/b4z...
I won my first game of Go against a dan player! (on a 13x13 board but hey)
online-go.com/game/89897230
online-go.com/game/89897230
Ladder Challenge: Jekho(#119) vs PhDniX(#88)
Jekho vs. PhDniX - 2026-08-19
online-go.com
August 26, 2026 at 3:11 PM
I won my first game of Go against a dan player! (on a 13x13 board but hey)
online-go.com/game/89897230
online-go.com/game/89897230
Kept reading the title as Dutch for some reason, and was quite confused as to how there could be "fresh homilies" on anyone written by Jacob of Serugh.
Just received this new translation of Jacob of Serugh’s Homilies on Cain and Abel. Congratulations to @philipforness.bsky.social and Jeffrey Wickes (the translators); it looks great!
August 26, 2026 at 9:34 AM
Kept reading the title as Dutch for some reason, and was quite confused as to how there could be "fresh homilies" on anyone written by Jacob of Serugh.
Not surprising but note that it read _maliki_ yawmi d-dīni, rather than _māliki_ as most print Qurans today.
The reads of Hafs (or any other Kufan for that matter) was not popular at the time in Egypt. Sadly not enough info to determine whether Warsh or Abū Amr.
The reads of Hafs (or any other Kufan for that matter) was not popular at the time in Egypt. Sadly not enough info to determine whether Warsh or Abū Amr.
A reversal of my previous post: this is the Arabic text of the Quran (al-Fatiha and start of al-Baqara) in Hebrew script. It appears in a longer Judaeo-Arabic work on popular magic. A number of medieval amulets show that medieval Jews invoked Islamic scripture to enhance magical effects.
August 26, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Not surprising but note that it read _maliki_ yawmi d-dīni, rather than _māliki_ as most print Qurans today.
The reads of Hafs (or any other Kufan for that matter) was not popular at the time in Egypt. Sadly not enough info to determine whether Warsh or Abū Amr.
The reads of Hafs (or any other Kufan for that matter) was not popular at the time in Egypt. Sadly not enough info to determine whether Warsh or Abū Amr.
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
A reversal of my previous post: this is the Arabic text of the Quran (al-Fatiha and start of al-Baqara) in Hebrew script. It appears in a longer Judaeo-Arabic work on popular magic. A number of medieval amulets show that medieval Jews invoked Islamic scripture to enhance magical effects.
August 25, 2026 at 4:53 PM
A reversal of my previous post: this is the Arabic text of the Quran (al-Fatiha and start of al-Baqara) in Hebrew script. It appears in a longer Judaeo-Arabic work on popular magic. A number of medieval amulets show that medieval Jews invoked Islamic scripture to enhance magical effects.
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
These two pages are the Hebrew book of Numbers written in Arabic script (~11th century). You read that right: it's Hebrew language transliterated using the Arabic alphabet for Arabic-speaking Jews. Manuscripts like this have proven vital to reconstructing medieval Hebrew pronunciation traditions.
August 25, 2026 at 3:26 PM
These two pages are the Hebrew book of Numbers written in Arabic script (~11th century). You read that right: it's Hebrew language transliterated using the Arabic alphabet for Arabic-speaking Jews. Manuscripts like this have proven vital to reconstructing medieval Hebrew pronunciation traditions.
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Apparently, Germaine Tillion wrote a note in Chaoui describing the person who had betrayed her Resistance cell to the Nazis and disguised it as part of her field notes.
www.inumiden.com/germaine-til...
www.inumiden.com/germaine-til...
August 24, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Apparently, Germaine Tillion wrote a note in Chaoui describing the person who had betrayed her Resistance cell to the Nazis and disguised it as part of her field notes.
www.inumiden.com/germaine-til...
www.inumiden.com/germaine-til...
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Former dual pronoun seen (and heard) in the wild: "enk" in a remote Alpine restaurant. It greets a plural 'you' on this menu, but was originally a dual pronoun for 'you two', cognate with English's lost pronoun inc.
August 14, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Former dual pronoun seen (and heard) in the wild: "enk" in a remote Alpine restaurant. It greets a plural 'you' on this menu, but was originally a dual pronoun for 'you two', cognate with English's lost pronoun inc.
Lexical aspect breaks my brain.
August 13, 2026 at 12:03 PM
Lexical aspect breaks my brain.
Yet another bizarre reading of Sibawayh by Carter. To illustrate the concept of waṣl "connected speech", Carter attributes a form to Sibawayh that he *definitely* does not describe and no other grammarian endorses either...
This passage is the only passage with فعلتم الخير in the Kitab.
This passage is the only passage with فعلتم الخير in the Kitab.
August 12, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Yet another bizarre reading of Sibawayh by Carter. To illustrate the concept of waṣl "connected speech", Carter attributes a form to Sibawayh that he *definitely* does not describe and no other grammarian endorses either...
This passage is the only passage with فعلتم الخير in the Kitab.
This passage is the only passage with فعلتم الخير in the Kitab.
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
Extremely excited about the IG/TikTok content the Odyssey is giving us! Also thank you a million times to @archaeadne.bsky.social for sending me tiktoks because I simply cannot do that platform
July 28, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Extremely excited about the IG/TikTok content the Odyssey is giving us! Also thank you a million times to @archaeadne.bsky.social for sending me tiktoks because I simply cannot do that platform
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
I'm continuing to transcribe Umda manuscripts in preparation for working on the edition, and I just typed half a paragraph before realising I didn't switch the keyboard 🤦♀️
August 11, 2026 at 9:05 AM
I'm continuing to transcribe Umda manuscripts in preparation for working on the edition, and I just typed half a paragraph before realising I didn't switch the keyboard 🤦♀️
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
So it's really quite rare to get insight into the *why*, sadly.
There are rare moments where we have reports that explain the rationale.
For example for quran.com/11/68 al-Kisāʾī reads the Genitive ṯamūdin triptotic, instead of his usual ṯamūda. His student al-Farrāʾ retains his explanation:
There are rare moments where we have reports that explain the rationale.
For example for quran.com/11/68 al-Kisāʾī reads the Genitive ṯamūdin triptotic, instead of his usual ṯamūda. His student al-Farrāʾ retains his explanation:
Surah Hud Ayah 68 - Read, Listen, Translation, Tafsir - Quran.com
Surah Hud Ayah 68 - كان لم يغنوا فيها الا ان ثمود كفروا ربهم الا بعدا لثمود
quran.com
August 10, 2026 at 3:18 PM
So it's really quite rare to get insight into the *why*, sadly.
There are rare moments where we have reports that explain the rationale.
For example for quran.com/11/68 al-Kisāʾī reads the Genitive ṯamūdin triptotic, instead of his usual ṯamūda. His student al-Farrāʾ retains his explanation:
There are rare moments where we have reports that explain the rationale.
For example for quran.com/11/68 al-Kisāʾī reads the Genitive ṯamūdin triptotic, instead of his usual ṯamūda. His student al-Farrāʾ retains his explanation:
Reposted by Marijn van Putten
not to be confused with quesadilla
August 10, 2026 at 2:15 AM
not to be confused with quesadilla