—This page: 1st. GRADE/Vowels/Zqapa & Ptakha--
The fine line between
Zqapa and Ptakha
Generally, the vowels zqapa and ptakha sound the same; they both represent "a" and "ä". The difference in their usage is largely based on grammar; more precisely, the verb and the kind of verb, is what dictates which one is used. A large portion of our vocabulary is derived (mosh-taq) from verbs, and whatever shape those vocabulary take, they carry the rules of that verb they are derived from.
There are some more rules that regulate the use of zqapa or ptakha, such as, adjectives, boreign language nouns and proper names—which are not extracted from verbs (so they don't follow the rules of the verb in the Assyrian language), and inherited words from arabic and old Aramaic, which are used in their original state without being altered.
Following all these regulations might seem a little difficult, but the good news is that all the rules are documented and follow a uniformed pattern. During and after the two World Wars in 1900's, in Urmia and Salamas, Iran the masters of our language such as Mar Toma Odo, Addai Alkhas, John Alkhas, Benyamin Arsanus, Paul Bejon, Rabi Za'ya Bet Za'ya, Nimrod Simono, Kourosh Benyamin, Issa Benyamin and more Assyrian language professionals figured out that our language did have a pattern and together they gathered the regulations of the old and new Assyrian language and made a uniformed grammar for it. It should be mentioned that the Classic (old) Aramaic has been kept nearly untouched for last few thousands of years, the language that our Lord, Jesus Christ spoke in.
Some how the masters of our language decided since our language was easier and spoken more clearly in Urmia, they built the grammar on Neo-Syriac—Aturaya Swadaya dialect, i.e., Urmijnaya. As a result, we can see that most publications are printed in Neo-Assyrian "Lishana Aturaya Swadaya", or Urmijnaya dialect.
In the following paragraphs, we bring a few examples as a rule of thumb when to use ptakha and not zqapa. Keep in mind these are general rules and do not cover the entire Assyrian vocabulary.
We will cover all the rules and situations of all the vowels in more advanced stages of this course. Right now, we are introducing some esamples.
1. Adjectives— four-letter words:
There are some more rules that regulate the use of zqapa or ptakha, such as, adjectives, boreign language nouns and proper names—which are not extracted from verbs (so they don't follow the rules of the verb in the Assyrian language), and inherited words from arabic and old Aramaic, which are used in their original state without being altered.
Following all these regulations might seem a little difficult, but the good news is that all the rules are documented and follow a uniformed pattern. During and after the two World Wars in 1900's, in Urmia and Salamas, Iran the masters of our language such as Mar Toma Odo, Addai Alkhas, John Alkhas, Benyamin Arsanus, Paul Bejon, Rabi Za'ya Bet Za'ya, Nimrod Simono, Kourosh Benyamin, Issa Benyamin and more Assyrian language professionals figured out that our language did have a pattern and together they gathered the regulations of the old and new Assyrian language and made a uniformed grammar for it. It should be mentioned that the Classic (old) Aramaic has been kept nearly untouched for last few thousands of years, the language that our Lord, Jesus Christ spoke in.
Some how the masters of our language decided since our language was easier and spoken more clearly in Urmia, they built the grammar on Neo-Syriac—Aturaya Swadaya dialect, i.e., Urmijnaya. As a result, we can see that most publications are printed in Neo-Assyrian "Lishana Aturaya Swadaya", or Urmijnaya dialect.
In the following paragraphs, we bring a few examples as a rule of thumb when to use ptakha and not zqapa. Keep in mind these are general rules and do not cover the entire Assyrian vocabulary.
We will cover all the rules and situations of all the vowels in more advanced stages of this course. Right now, we are introducing some esamples.
1. Adjectives— four-letter words:
Note that the vowel ptakha does not indicate that sound of the letter bearing it puts stress on the next letter.
2. Inherited Nouns from the Old (Classic) Aramaic, such as,
2. Inherited Nouns from the Old (Classic) Aramaic, such as,
3. Four-letter verbs, this incident refers to the root of the verb being four letters,
The rule for the four-letter verbs is that when the first letter has an "a" or "ä" sounds, it always picks the ptakha vowel.
These were a few examples of how the usage of ptakha is regulated. At this time, it is not necessary to mention all of them; they will be discussed in detail in more advanced classes.
These were a few examples of how the usage of ptakha is regulated. At this time, it is not necessary to mention all of them; they will be discussed in detail in more advanced classes.
Zqapa vs. Ptakha
In the paragraphs above, I think I have confused you enough. So I will not discuss the use of zqapa at this time. All I will say is that the zqapa is whole lot easier to use and it's mostly based on logic, and the regulations do not deviate it from the logic. i.e, mostly, when the letter other than the first one, sounding "a" or "ä" does not put a stress on the letter next to it, it will pick a zqapa vowel. For example,
We already know that the last "a" or "ä" letter is zqapa, the one before "allap", i.e, yoot zqapa at the end of "Eeranaya".
More examples on ptakha and zqapa:
Here, there are more examples of nouns starting with "a" or "ä" that pick the ptakha, and the mid letters pick zqapa (just because they don't put stress on the following letter) and/or they are the last letter with a vowel. In the example below, it just makes sense that the "resh" and "sheen" in "khär'räshä" pick "zqapa". You can see that zqapa is easier to use and doesn't have so many restrictions, especially when it is in the middle of the word.
Here, there are more examples of nouns starting with "a" or "ä" that pick the ptakha, and the mid letters pick zqapa (just because they don't put stress on the following letter) and/or they are the last letter with a vowel. In the example below, it just makes sense that the "resh" and "sheen" in "khär'räshä" pick "zqapa". You can see that zqapa is easier to use and doesn't have so many restrictions, especially when it is in the middle of the word.
Examples for nouns when zqapa (at the beginning of the word) is used, the letter bearing the sound of "a" or "ä" is not putting stress on the next letter,
Note: When the word ends with the sound of "a" or "ä", the last letter before "allap" is always zqapa and not ptakha.
The case of nouns was one instance using ptakha instead of zqapa. The other instance is based on grammatical rules, which we will discuss in more advanced stages of this course. I had to mention the differences at this time briefly, because it will come times that the question will arise—how come zqapa is used in here and not ptakha, and vise versa. One thing I guarantee you, before this course ends, the differences will be amazingly clear to you and you will be writing novels! Just bear with me and hang in there!
The case of nouns was one instance using ptakha instead of zqapa. The other instance is based on grammatical rules, which we will discuss in more advanced stages of this course. I had to mention the differences at this time briefly, because it will come times that the question will arise—how come zqapa is used in here and not ptakha, and vise versa. One thing I guarantee you, before this course ends, the differences will be amazingly clear to you and you will be writing novels! Just bear with me and hang in there!
One more attempt to show the sigificant difference between vowels Zqapa and Ptakha is shown here. The red letters with their vowels (zow'ei) make a big difference in the meanings of the words:
We will discuss the logic behind all this in more advanced courses, in the second or third grades.