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From: Troy Sagrillo <t.sagrillo@utoronto.ca>
Subject: Re: What's the deal with Coptic?
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Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 02:29:48 GMT
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Troy N. Terry wrote:
> 
> Hello ...
> 
> I'm wondering if anyone out there has some
> basic information on the Coptic language
> of Egypt.  Is it still the church language
> of Egyptian Christians? 

Yes, but Arabic is also used.

> How many Coptic speakers are there? 

None (at least not as native speakers). It died out as a living language
about the 14th century. There have been some attempts to revive it, but
they have not been successful.

> Is Coptic a Semitic language? 

No, but it is an Afroasiatic language related to the Semitic languages.
Coptic is basically a very late form the language of ancient Egypt (ie,
the same as that found in hieroglyphics), but written with a modified
form of the Greek alphabet and with a number of Greek loan words.

> Is it anyone's native language?

not any more.

> 
> And also, are there some good web sites
> where I can bone up on all things Coptic?

Check out some of the Egyptology web sites -- they'll have links to some
Coptic sites.

Troy Sagrillo
