Siculo-Arabic
Encyclopedia
Siculo-Arabic was a variety
of Arabic spoken in Sicily
and Malta
between the ninth and the fourteenth centuries. It is extinct in Sicily, but it has developed into what is now the Maltese language
on the islands of Malta.
. The eventual Arab-Muslim conquest of Byzantine Sicily was piecemeal and slow. The region became a frontier zone even after the fall of Taormina
in 902 which completed the invasion. By that time, Arabic had become the main language of the island.
Its mixed population of Muslims and Greek-speaking (Orthodox) Christians continued to use Arabic even after the Norman conquest of the island (1061–90).
In the post-conquest period, both Arabic and Greek were sometimes used by the new rulers. However, Arabic was dropped as a language of government between 1117 and 1132. Thereafter, it was revived as and used in the king's fiscal administration which managed royal lands and men in Sicily and Calabria. This chancery office operated in Arabic, Greek and Latin. The many documents that it issued are one of the main and most important sources for Arabic in Sicily.
Although the Norman rulers employed Arabic and some were attested as Arabic-speakers themselves, after only a century the dynasty died out and their successors expelled the remaining Muslims in the 13th century.
Arabic influence
is present in a small number of Sicilian
words (compared to the influence in Spanish). Most of these terms relate to agriculture
and related activities.
, with additional influences from Sicilian
, Italian
, French
, and more recently English
. Some items of Siculo-Arabic vocabulary are comparable with later items found in Maltese language
.
These include:
Varieties of Arabic
The Arabic language is a Semitic language characterized by a wide number of linguistic varieties within its five regional forms. The largest divisions occur between the spoken languages of different regions. The Arabic of North Africa, for example, is often incomprehensible to an Arabic speaker...
of Arabic spoken in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
between the ninth and the fourteenth centuries. It is extinct in Sicily, but it has developed into what is now the Maltese language
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
on the islands of Malta.
Arab conquest of Sicily
During the seventh and eight centuries Sicily had been raided from TunisTunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. The eventual Arab-Muslim conquest of Byzantine Sicily was piecemeal and slow. The region became a frontier zone even after the fall of Taormina
Taormina
Taormina is a comune and small town on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Italy, in the Province of Messina, about midway between Messina and Catania. Taormina has been a very popular tourist destination since the 19th century...
in 902 which completed the invasion. By that time, Arabic had become the main language of the island.
Its mixed population of Muslims and Greek-speaking (Orthodox) Christians continued to use Arabic even after the Norman conquest of the island (1061–90).
In the post-conquest period, both Arabic and Greek were sometimes used by the new rulers. However, Arabic was dropped as a language of government between 1117 and 1132. Thereafter, it was revived as and used in the king's fiscal administration which managed royal lands and men in Sicily and Calabria. This chancery office operated in Arabic, Greek and Latin. The many documents that it issued are one of the main and most important sources for Arabic in Sicily.
Although the Norman rulers employed Arabic and some were attested as Arabic-speakers themselves, after only a century the dynasty died out and their successors expelled the remaining Muslims in the 13th century.
Arabic influence
Influence of Arabic on other languages
Arabic has had a great influence on other languages, especially in vocabulary. The influence of Arabic has been most profound in those countries dominated by Islam or Islamic power...
is present in a small number of Sicilian
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
words (compared to the influence in Spanish). Most of these terms relate to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and related activities.
Maltese language
Although Siculo-Arabic died out in Sicily, it survived on MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, with additional influences from Sicilian
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and more recently English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. Some items of Siculo-Arabic vocabulary are comparable with later items found in Maltese language
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
.
These include:
| Maltese | Siculo-Arabic | English English language English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria... |
|---|---|---|
| Bebbuxu | Babbaluciu | Snail |
| Ġiebja | Gebbia | Cistern |
| Ġunġlien | Giuggiulena | Sesame seed |
| Saqqajja | Saia | Canal |
| Kenur | Tanura | Oven |
| Żaffran | Zaffarana | Saffron Saffron Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel... |
| Zahar | Zagara | Blossom |
| Żbib | Zibbibbu | Raisins |
| Zokk | Zuccu | Tree trunk |