Lexical Items Relating to Material Culture in the NENA Dialects of the Aqra Region

Aziz Emmanuel Eliya Al-Zebari (in collaboration with Anjuman M. Sabir)

This article is based on my research on the Neo-Aramaic dialects of the Aqra (Akre) region, which are spoken across the Aqra mountain in Iraqi Kurdistan. Some details about these dialects have been discussed in previous publications, notably by Coghill (2008, 102–104). No systematic documentation of these dialects has, however, so far been published.

The Neo-Aramaic dialects of Aqra belong to the North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic (NENA) subgroup, which is the largest and most diverse branch of Neo-Aramaic.

The informants for this project come from various areas of the Aqra region, where different dialects were spoken. These dialects can be classified broadly into those of the villages lying to the North of the Aqra mountain and those of the inhabitants of the region to the South of the mountain. Those lying to the North are situated in an area known as Nexla (henceforth Nx.) and include the villages of Dinarta, Upper Girbish, and Sanaye. The inhabitants of these are descendants of families from the villages of Geppa, Arena and Qalunta (known in Kurdish as Shkafte, Harene, and Kalate respectively), which were abandoned in the 1880s. The dialect area lying to the South of the Aqra mountain (referred to by the abbreviation Sam.) includes the town of Aqra and the villages of Kherpa, Kharjawa, Nuhawa, Barrake, Sharmen and Malaberwan. The most conspicuous differences between these two dialect areas are (i) the reflexes of the historical interdentals *θ and *ð and (ii) the pronunciation of long /u/.

In the Nexla area in the North the historical unvoiced *θ is debuccalised to /h/, e.g. Dinarta beha (< *bayθa) ‘house’, as in some NENA dialects of the Baz region (Mutzafi 2000). In the southern area, on the other hand, it is realised as a sibilant /s/, e.g. Kherpa besa ‘house’. The reflex of the historical voiced interndental *ð is the voiced sibilant /z/ in both areas, e.g. Dinarta ʾiza (< ʾiða) ‘hand’. The dialect spoken in the town of Aqra is an exception to this generalisation, since the reflex of historical *θ is /θ/ or /s/, e.g. beθa ~ besa ‘house’, and the reflex of historical *ð is the stop /d/, e.g. ʾida ‘hand’. This is summarised in Table 1 below:

Table 1: Reflexes of Interdentals

The other conspicuous feature that distinguishes the two dialect areas is the pronunciation of the long /u/ as a fronted rounded vowel (represented here as /ü/) in the northern Nx. area and as a back /u/ in the southern area,1 e.g. güza (Nx.), guza (Sam.) ‘skin churn’ (< *guða).

In this paper I shall present a collection of lexical items relating to material culture that are used in the dialects of the area. The classification of the semantics fields is based on Khan’s lexical lists in his grammar of the Barwar dialect (2008, vol. 2).

Lexical items are cited in the variant forms that occur in the two dialect areas, reflecting the phonological differences that have just been described. The gender of the nouns is indicated and their plural form(s). The two plural inflections -aha and -asa represent the two regional variations in the realisation of historical *θ (< *-aθa) across the dialects of Nexla and south Aqra mountain (Sam.) respectively. The plural inflection -aθa is used by some speakers in the town of Aqra (At.). When the words are loans from other languages, this is indicated by the abbreviations Kurd. (Kurdish), Arab. (Arabic) and Turk. (Turkish) respectively. The transcription system follows the practice of Khan’s (2008) grammar of the Barwar dialect. Short vowels in closed syllables and long vowels in open syllables are left without diacritical marks. A long vowel in a closed syllable is marked by a macron and a short vowel in an open syllable is marked by a breve. The character /ə/ in all syllables represents a short centralised vowel, which is realised as [ɪ] or [ə] according to the phonetic context.

1. Buildings and Structures

1.1. Houses and their Appurtenances

beha, besa m. (pl. behane, besane, bāte) house

darta f. (pl. dartaha, dartasa) courtyard, residential enclosure

ḥawš m. (pl. ḥawšane) (Kurd.) courtyard, residential enclosure

gare m. (pl. garawaha, garawasa) roof

qaṛiyya f. (pl. qaṛyaha, qaṛyasa) beam

sapətka m. (pl. sapətke) small beam

stüna (Nx.), stunta, stuna (Sam.) f. (pl. stunyaha, stunyasa) wooden pole that supports the ceiling

sterka m. (pl. sterke) (Kurd.) scaffold on which food is kept

swane m. (pl. swanane) overhanging eaves of roof

mandarüne (Nx.), mandarune (Sam.) m. (pl. mandarünyaha, mandarunyasa) roller for flattening roof

güda (Nx.), guda (Sam.) m. (pl. güdane, gudane) wall

taqa m. (pl. taqane) (Kurd.) face of the wall

bərbawa m. (pl. bərbawe) a hole made on the roof for lowering straw into the straw store

btüne (Nx.), btune (Sam.) m. straw store

ṣalmət-güda (Nx.) ṣalmət guda (Sam.) m. front of wall facing outwards

quṛṣulta f. (pl.quṛṣulyaha, quṛṣulyasa) outer angle of house

ṭaṛa m. (pl. ṭaṛane) door

ṭareha, ṭaresa f. small door

dəsqət-ṭaṛa f. (pl. dəsqe) handle of a door

darga m. (pl. darge) (Kurd.) main door (with two leaves)

spuqta f. (pl. spuqyaha, spuqyasa) lintel

qulqulta m. (pl. qulquyaha,qulqulyasa) rods in wooden door lock

qzila, qdila (At.) f. (pl. qzile, qdile) key

qufla m. (pl. qufle) metal lock

kaylun m. (pl. kaylone) (Kurd.) metal lock of a door

panjara m. (pl. panjare) (Kurd.) window

čawiyya f. (pl. čawyaha, čawyasa) airhole of clay oven

kullina f. (pl. kulline) small opening at the top of a room without glass

ṛazunta (pl. ṛazunyasa) (Kherpa) small opening at the top of a room without glass

barbānka f. (pl. barbānke) (Kurd.) balcony, low structure attached to outside of house for people to sit on

parda m. (pl. pardaha, pardasa, parde) (Kurd.) curtain; cloth blind

qam-ṭaṛa f. (pl. qam-ṭaṛane) open space in front of house

tăbaqa m. (pl. tăbaqe) (Arab.) storey

ʾăra f. floor

ʾăsās m. (pl. ʾăsāse) (Arab.) foundation

benaġa m. (pl. benaġe) (Kurd.) foundation

ləbna m. (pl. ləbne) mud brick

sarʾuli f. (pl. sarʾuliyye) (Kurd.) upper floor

ʾoda f./m. (pl. ʾodaha, ʾodasa) (Kurd./Turk.) room

ʾodəd dmaxa f. (pl. ʾodahəd dmaxa, ʾodasəd dmaxa) sleeping room

ʾodət ʾitawa f. (pl. ʾodahət ʾitawa, ʾodasət ʾitawa) sitting room

ʾodət ʾarzāq f. (pl. ʾodahət ʾarzāq, ʾodoasət ʾarzāq) store room for cereals

ʾoda leha, ʾuda lesa f. (pl. ʾudaha laye, ʾudasa laye) upper room, room on first floor of a house

ʾoda xteha ʾuda xtesa f. (pl. ʾudaha xtaye, ʾudasa xtaye) lower room

manzal f. (pl. manzale) (Arab./Kurd.) room

manzalət ʾitawa f. sitting room

kočəka f. (pl. kočəkyaha, kočəkyasa) (Kurd.) guest room

jăṛade f. (pl. jaradāyha, jaradyasa) ladder

səllamta f. (pl səllamyaha, səllamyasa) wooden ladder

pepalānka f. (pl. pepalānke) (Kurd.) flight of steps, staircase

došəka, došəksa f. (pl. došəkyaha, došəkyasa) outer low structure attached to the entrance of a house used for sitting

ṣüpa (Nx.), ṣupa (Sam.) m. outer shed opening outwards

ṣupaniyya, ṣupanisa f. small outer shed opening outwards

ṣoba f. (pl. ṣobaha, ṣobasa) large stove with a chimney fuelled by wood

došăka (pl. došăke, došakyaha, došakyasa) (Kurd.) mattress

marša m. (pl. marše) thin mattress for sitting

maršəka, maršəksa f. (pl. maršəkyaha, maršəkyasa) small mattress for sitting

kursi m. (pl. kursiyye) (Arab.) chair

šwiyya, šwisa f. (pl. šəwyaha, šəwyasa) bed, bedding

spadiyya, stabiyya f. (pl. spadyaha, spadyasa, stabyaha, stabyasa) pillow, cushion

taxta f. (pl. taxtaha, taxtasa) wooden bed

kulla m. (pl. kulle) mosquito net

boriyya, borisa m. (pl. boryaha, boryasa) smoke duct of stove

quprana f. (pl. qupranane) summer bed on roof mounted on wood poles

qupraniyya, qupranisa f. (pl. qupranyaha qupranyasa) small wooden trellis

tanüra, tanura m. (pl. tanüre, tanure) oven (for baking bread)

bnüre, bnu:re m. out-door horseshoe-like hearth built of stones and clay for cooking

bükare, bkare (Kherpa) m. (pl. bükarane, bkarane) animal shed usually annexed to the house

kolita f. (pl. kolite) hen-house

ʾoṛṛe f. (pl. ʾoṛṛaha, ʾoṛṛasa) a box or trough in a stable or barn from which horses or cattle eat

koska m. (pl. koske) a fenced area where sheep and cattle are kept in summer

dünga, dunga m. (pl. dünge, dunge) winter shelter for sheep and goats

koxa m. (pl. koxe) (Kurd.) hut

küra, kura m. (pl. küre, kure) furnace, kiln

gərba f. (pl. gərbe) beehive (cylindrical)

šana m. (pl. šanaha, šanasa) honeycomb

1.2. Church and its Appurtenances

ʾeta m. (pl. ʾetaha, ʾetasa) church

maðəbḥa m. (pl. maðəbḥe) altar

guṛna f. (pl. gorne) baptismal font

qəṭṛa m. (pl. qəṭṛe) arch, dome

kasa m. (pl. kase) chalice

pəṛma m. (pl. pəṛme) incense burner

ṛaza m. (pl. ṛaze) mass

quṛbana m. holy communion; host

kaṛuzuwwa, kaṛuzusa m. sermon, preaching

ʾəngaliyyun m. Gospel

bṛuksa m. blessing

bəsqüṛe, bəsquṛe m. (pl. bəsqüṛawaha, bəsquṛawasa) cemetery

qawṛa f. (pl. qawṛaha, qawṛasa) grave

naqoša m. (pl. naqoše) bell

ṣuṛta f. (pl. suṛyaha, suṛyasa) painting

kursi d-mawdoye m. confessional

ẓəngloka m. (pl. ẓəngloke) (Kurd.) small bell

sətra m. curtain

jullət-ṛaze m. mass vestments

jullət-šamaše n.pl. deacon apparel

huṛaṛa m. stole of deacon

ṣliwa m. (pl. ṣliwe) cross

quṛbana m. holy communion, host

ṣaṛḥaṣṣa m. deacon belt

fənda m. (pl. fənde) burning wick

ḥuðṛa m. (pl. ḥuðṛe) prayer book of liturgical calendar

qdamasər m. liturgical book of prayer

1.3. Watermill

ʾarxəl f. (pl. ʾarxəlwaha, ʾarxəlwasa) watermill

kepət reša m. upper grindstone

kepət səssa m. lower grindstone

kotăla m. (pl. kotăle) raised tank attached to a water-mill which fills with water from a channel and releases water flow at a high pressure to drive the mill

boṭəka m. (pl. boṭəkyaha, boṭəkyasa ) large wooden channel that carries water at high speed to drive water-mill

parwana m. (pl. parwane, parwanāt) propeller

paṛṛe n.pl. blades of propeller

dulaba m. wooden wheel to which propellers are attached

dawla m. open box over a water-mill containing wheat, with a hole in the bottom through which wheat comes out onto the grindstone

čaqčaqa m. wooden wheel shaking and dispensing slowly grain to be ground by a water-mill

suṛṛəka f. lip in the ridge of the lower grindstone of a water-mill where sesame oil pours off

bəsta m. driving rod

1.4. Churn

güza, guza m. (pl. güze, guze) skin bag used for churning

mayoya m. (pl. mayoye) long wooden rod running the length of the frame carrying the churn bag

lawlaba m. (pl. lawlabe) wooden stick at the two ends of the frame carrying the churn bag

1.5. Cradle

dodiyya f. (pl. dodiyye, dudyaha, dudyasa) cradle

dazbenka m. (pl.dazbenke) (Kurd.) swaddling bands

qasrika m. (pl. qasrike) pot for collecting urine and excrement of baby

šaruqta f. (pl. šaruqyaha, šaruqyasa) pipe for taking away urine of baby

2. Containers

2.1. Miscellaneous Vessels

badiyya m. (pl. badiyye) brass vessel (for water and dawwe)

dana f. (pl. dane) water jar

margəlta f. (pl. margəlyaha, margəlyasa) pan for cooking

maqle f. (Arab.) frying-pan

talma m. (pl. talme) (Kurd./Arab.) water pot

manjaloke f. (pl. manjalukyaha, manjalukyasa) (Kurd.) pail for milk or yoghurt

kawaza f. (pl. kawaze) earthenware pot for water

kwara f. (pl. kwarane) storage bin for corn

lagana f. (pl. lagane) brass container for food

lina f. (pl. line) large conical-shaped pot

linta f. (pl. linyaha, linyasa) small conical-shaped pot

majmaʿa f. (pl. majmaʿe) (Arab.) tray

maṛəgla m. (pl. maṛəgle) brass pan for heating water

masina f. (pl. masine) earthenware or brass pot with spout, dish for washing hands

qaṭxa m. (pl. qaṭxe) cup measure for grain and flour

qapüla, qapula m. (pl. qapüle, qapule) a small measure used by the owner of water-mill to measure out his share as a fee for milling flour or sesame oil

qoqa m. (pl. qoqe) water pot

quqta f. (pl. quqyaha, quqyasa) small water pot

qasrika m. (pl. qasrike) (Kurd.) pot under a cradle for collecting urine and excrement of a baby

ṣəṭla f. (pl. ṣəṭle) brass or aluminium bucket

seniyya f. (pl. seniyye) (Kurd./Arab.) large metal plate

senika f. (pl. senikyaha, senikyasa) (Kurd./Arab.) small metal plate

koka m. (pl. koke) large pot for cooking oil and fried meat

šarba f. (pl. šarbe) earthenware jug

šüša, šuša m. (pl. šüše, šuše) bottle

tănăka m. (pl. tănăke) tin

ṭašta f. (pl. ṭašyaha, tašyasa) (Kurd.) brass bowl (for kneading dough)

lüliyya, luliyya m. (pl. lüliyye, luliyye) spout (on a pot)

kofka, kuwwa m. (pl. kuwwe) funnel

2.3. Cups and Glasses

glās m. (pl. glase) (Kurd./English) glass

kasa m. (pl. kase) chalice (in church)

stikana m. (pl. stikane) (Kurd.) small tea glass

samawar m. (Kurd.) samovar

bardaġ m. (pl. bardaġe) glass for drinking water

čapaste, čapaske f. (pl. čapaskyaha, čapaskyasa, čapastyaha, čapastyasa) (Kurd.) teapot

2.3. Bags and Baskets

məziyya f. (pl. məziyaha, məziyasa) large skin bag for storing grains

kisa m. (pl. kise) (Arab.) small bag of cloth for keeping grains

kista m. (pl. kisyaha, kisyasa) (Arab) small bag of cloth

buqča m. (pl. boqčəkyaha, buqčəkyasa) (Kurd.) a piece of cloth used to carry or keep clothes

buqčəka (Nex.), buqčəksa (Sam.) m. (pl. boqčəkyaha, buqčəkyasa) (Kurd.) small piece of cloth used to carry or keep clothes

č̣anṭa f. (pl. č̣anyaha, č̣anyasa) (Kurd.) shoulder bag

güza, guza m. (pl. güze, guze) skin bag for churning or carrying liquids

širmaška m. (pl. širmaške) small skin bag for carrying milk

goniyya f. (pl. goniyye) (Arab.) sack (made of flax)

jawala f. (pl. jawalane) (Kurd.) sack (made of animal hair)

paṛuzun m. (Kurd.) woolen knapsack carried by women

pista f. (pl. pisyaha, pisyasa ) bag usually of sheep skin for keeping cheese and jajək

qəṛṭala f. (pl. qəṛṭalane) pannier bag on the back of an animal

qupiyya, qupisa f. (pl. qupiyaha qupyasa) small pannier bag

ṭəryanta f. (pl. ṭəryanane) small basket tray used for bread or new-born babies.

ṭəryana m. (pl. ṭəryanane) large basket tray used for storing bread

gərba m. (pl. gərbe) conical basket for keeping bees

kurtana m. (pl. kurtanane) saddle-bag especially for donkeys

3. Miscellaneous Instruments and Tools

tarkəsana m. long wooden poker for stirring up the fire of an oven

baxošta f. (pl. baxošyaha, baxošyasa) big stirring spoon, ladle

ḅyaṭa m. (pl. ḅyaṭe) pickaxe

jalla m. (pl. jalle) long stick used for bringing down walnuts from walnut trees

čakuč m. (pl. čakuče) (Kurd./Arab.) hammer

čamča f. (pl. čamče) spoon (made of wood)

čəngala f. (pl. čəngale) (Kurd.) fork

garoma m. (pl. garome) large wood rolling pin

garusta f. (pl. garosyaha, garusyasa) handmill

geṛa m. (pl. geṛe) long thin rolling pin

gəṛkə f. (pl. gəṛkaha, gəṛkasa) (Kurd.) handmill used to remove husks from rice

jaʾoza f. (pl. jaʾoze) wood chopper

kanušta f. (pl. kanušyaha, kanuyasa) small broom, brush

kallax m. (pl. kallaxe) (Kurd.) sheep shears

kalbaṭān m. (pl. kalbṭane) (Kurd./Arab.) pincers

gupala f. (pl. gupale) (Kurd.) shepherd’s stick; walking stick

magla m. (pl. magle) sickle

magəsta f. (pl. magəsyaha, magəsyasa) small sickle

mandaṛüne, mandaṛune f. (pl. mandaṛunyaha, mandarunyasa) roller for flattening roof

məqqara m. (pl. məqqare) gouge, chisel

məqqaṣ m. (pl. məqqaṣe) (Arab.) scissors

maṛa m. (pl. maṛe) metal spade with a piece of wood above the metal part used to press the tool with the leg

maṛuwwa f. (pl. maṛuwwe) wooden spade for moving snow

maṛbəl f. (pl. maṛbele, maṛbəlyaha, maṛbəlyasa) metal spade

rušta f. wooden spade for cereals

mazraqa f. (pl. mazraqe) wooden stick covered in wool used to stick bread to the oven

maṣəxwa m. (pl. maṣəxwe) metal scoop with a long handle to carry embers or remove ash from ovens

masasa m. (pl. masase) long stick ending in one end with a goad and the other with an iron blade used to goad oxen during ploughing and to remove mud from the plough

maxətwa m. (pl. maxətwe) awl (with wooden handle)

məlġawa m. (pl. məlġawe) winnowing fork

daqṛa m. (pl. daqṛe) two-pronged winnowing fork

məšna f. (pl. məšne) whetstone for sharpening blades

məṣapyu f. strainer

ṣapuwwa f. (pl. ṣapuwwe) strainer

tarkəsana m. (pl. tarkəsane) wooden poker

nara m. (pl. nare) axe

nəsurta f. (pl. nəsuryaha, nəsuryasa) saw

qaṭu m. big saw mounted on a wooden frame and handled by two people to cut big tree trunks

gupala f. (pl. gupale) walking-stick

šawṭa m. (pl. šawṭe) long thin flexible stick used like a whip

maʿalləm čiči m. a cross-like shape covered with cloth to frighten away birds in paddy fields and orchards

šapṛa m. (pl. šapṛe) large knife

beṭiyya f. (pl. beṭyaha, beṭyasa) small metal tool lie an adze for digging up vegetables

xaṣṣina f. (pl. xaṣṣine) axe

xaššola m. (pl. xaššole) hand-held grinding stone for grinding rice or wheat

maduxta f. a small horizontal stone mortar with a stone to crush wet grains by rubbing them against the mortar by hand

xatoṛa m. (pl. xatoṛe) washing board

makinət xyaṭa f. sewing machine

4. Agriculture

4.1. Cultivated Land

ʾara f. (pl. ʾaraha, ʾarasa) ground, land

ʾaqaṛa m. (pl. ʾaqaṛe) area of open farmland

ʾəpra m. soil, ground; land

bayara f. land left without cultivation for one season

čamma m. (pl. čammane) large field near river; plantation

gwānda m. (pl. gawānde) boundary; strip between fields with no cultivation to mark boundary

karma m. (pl. karmane) vineyard; orchard

marga m. (pl. margane) meadow

praza f. (pl. prazane, prazaha, prazasa) stubble field

txüba, txuba m. (pl. txübe, txu:be) boundary

zṛota f. planted vegitables and crops

4.2. Paddy Fields

sadda m. (pl. sadde) (Arab.) dammed section of paddy field consisting of a row of basins

šella n.pl. (Kurd.) soft mud made in preparation for cultivation of rice

makajo f. (pl. makajoye) section of a paddy field, paddy field basin

4.3. Irrigation

šaqiyya f. (pl. šaqyaha, šaqyasa) irrigation channel

darawe f. (pl. darawyaha, darawyasa) (Kurd.) dam put in an irrigation channel (šaqiyya) to stop or redirect the flow of water

ṣəkra m. (pl. ṣəkre) (Kurd.) dam put in an irrigation channel (šaqiyya) to stop or redirect the flow of water

boṭəka f. (pl. boṭəkyaha, boṭəkyasa) long hollow tree trunk split in two used to carry water across a water stream (šaqiyya)

kaṛṛaxa m. (pl. kaṛṛaxe) irrigation adminstrator, who was concerned principally with regulating the flow of water in a water channel (šaqiyya)

4.4. Harvest and Storage

ġzada f. harvest

bədṛa f. (pl. bədṛaha, bədṛasa) threshing floor

gurza m. (pl. gurze) large tied bundle of grass or produce (usually wheat)

qapla m. (pl. qaple) an arm-full amount of grass, produce

dwara m. threshing of grains by animals on the threshing floor

gdiša m. (pl. gdiše) pile of harvested rice, wheat or sesame

kartət ṛəzza f. (pl. karahət rəzza, karasət rəzza ) load of harvested rice carried on the back in a piece of cloth

dṛaya m. to winnow, to separate threshed wheat from straw with wind and rakes

qayne m. metal finger covers worn by harvesters

səmmala f. (pl. səmmale) small bundle of grass or produce

ṭaṛpa m. tree (oak) leaves for winter

ṭaṛpušna m. fallen tree leaves

deqa f. (pl. deqaha, deqasa) stack of twigs with leaves or harvested rice stalks for animal fodder in winter

deqət ṭaṛpa f. (pl. deqahət ṭaṛpa, deqasət ṭaṛpa) stack of oak tree twigs with leaves built around a pole for animal fodder in winter

deqət balma f. (pl. deqahət balma, deqasət balma) stack of harvested bundles of rice stalks built around a wood pole or animal fodder in winter

taxa m. (pl. taxe) pile, untied bundle of grass and leaves

btüne, btune m. storage bin for straw

parta f. removed rice husks

püška, puška m. (Kurd.) rice grains with husks

4.5. Plough and Ploughing

bzara f. (pl. bzarane) plough

nira m. (pl. nire) yoke

lata f. (pl. latəkyaha, latəkyasa) furrow

latəka f. (pl. latəkyaha, latəkyasa) small furrow

psana f. a ploughed unit of land

šapna f. instrument made of oak twigs for smoothing ground after ploughing and sowing

4.6. Sieves and Sieving

maxəlta f. (pl. maxəlyaha, maxəlyasa) sieve with small holes (for flour)

ʾərbala f. (pl. ʾərbale, ʾərbalane) sieve with medium sized holes

sarada m. (pl. sarade) (Kurd./Arab.) sieve with large holes (for corn)

parta f. husks remaining in sieve after sieving

dəqqa m. fine particles of grains (especially rice) after pounding them in a stone mortar

5. Sewing, Weaving and Spinning

5.1. Sewing

xyaṭa to sew

xayyaṭa m. (pl. xayyaṭe) (Arab.) tailor

xayyaṭṭa f. (pl. xayyaṭe) (Arab.) seamstress

makinət xyaṭa f. sewing machine

xmaṭa f. (pl. xmaṭyaha, xmatyasa) needle

ʾurtəxa f. (pl. ʾurtəxe, ʾurtəxyaha, ʾurtəxyasa) long needle

qaṭwa m. (pl. qaṭwe) large wooden needle

sənjaqa f. (pl. sənjaqe) crochet-hook

kəštaban f. thimble

gzaza, gdada (At.) m. (pl. gzaze, gdade) thread

bakara m. (pl. bakare) spool for thread

keliyya m. (pl. keliyye) loose stitch used to join pieces of fabric together in a preliminary fashion before they are sewed with the final stitching

pṛaṭa to undo a stitching by pulling apart the two sides of the stitched cloth

5.2. Weaving

zqaṛa to weave, to knit

zəqṛa m. (pl. zəqṛe) weaving, woven product

5.3. Spinning

ʾzala to spin (wool)

ʾəzla m. yarn

küša, kuša m. (pl. küše, kuše) spindle (hanging from a distaff )

masərqa m. (pl. masərqe) large comb for carding wool

gəgla m. (pl. gəgle) skein (of wool, thread) spun on a spool

6. Hunting

lāstika f. (pl. lāstike) sling

zwəlla m. (pl. zwəlle) an elastic strip with which the sling is tied to the pronged piece of wood used for making slings

kawla m. (pl. kawle) piece of leather fastened to the sling where the round stone is put and fired at birds

dənjama f. (pl. denjama) (Kurd.) screen behind which hunters hide to shoot birds

ṭappəka, ṭappəksa f. (pl. ṭappəkyaha, ṭappəkyasa) trap for partridges and sparrows consisting of a broad stone that falls down on a pit once the bird steps on the trigger supporting the stone.

ṭaḷḷe f. (pl. ṭaḷḷaha, ṭaḷḷasa) metal springed animal trap

tăfaqa f. (pl. tăfaqe) rifle

qeṛma f. (pl. qeṛme) shotgun

7. Fires

nüra, nura m. fire

manqušta f. (pl. manqušyaha, manqušyaha) metal instrument for striking fire on flint

kepət manqušta m. flint used to strike fire with metal instrument known as manqušta

lata f. flame

črüska, čruska m. (pl. črüske, črüska) (Kurd.) spark

tənna m. smoke

palla m. (pl. palle) (Kurd.) ember of burning wood

qəṭma m. ash

šəmṛa m.soot

šəxṛa m. soot that forms on the surface of cooking pots or chimnies

maṣəxwa f. (pl. maṣəxwe) metal scoop with a long handle to remove soot from fire place, carry hot charcoal, or ember.

tarkəsana m. small wooden poker

bnüre, bnure m. fireplace, hearth

sekuča m. (pl. sekuče) (Kurd.) metal frame for cooking over a fire with three legs

malhoye to burn, to be kindled

ṭpaya to kindle

draya nüra, nura b- gu- to set fire to (used in an abstract way), e.g. drele nüra/nura gu-ləbbi ‘he set fire to my heart’ (= he made me very sad)

ʾiqaza to burn, maqoze, mqaza ‘to set fire to’

yuqzana m. fuel

lwaxa to catch fire, to blaze, to get furious at somebody

baṭboṭe to fluctuate when burning from one extreme to another

qmaya to scorch (clothes) (tr. and intr.)

xraxa to singe

xərxa m. singed head, forearms and legs of animal for eating

šyara to stoke (fire)

tarkose to build up embers of a fire in order to keep it burning

ṭyaxa to die down (fire), maṭyoxe to dampen down (fire)

8. Clothes and Fabrics

8.1. General Clothes

bahitta f. (pl. bayaha, bayasa) men’s long sleeve hanging from a white shirt down the hand, women’s long sleeves that can be tied from behind above the buttocks.

gəṛwiyya, gəṛwisa f. (pl. gəṛwe) socks

bubba m. (pl. bubbe) the lower part of a woman’s shirt below the breasts used as a pocket

jeba m. (pl. jebane) (Arab.) pocket (men)

gəfka m. (pl. gəfke) (Kurd.) tassel

šaḷa, m. (pl. šaḷe) (Kurd.) traditional thick cloth belt worn by women

čarukta f. (pl. čarukyaha, čarukyasa) a traditional piece of cloth worn around one side of the waist by women, usually with sashes

šütka, šutka m. (pl. šütke, šutke) (Kurd.) a single strand of cloth used as a belt by women, men’s traditional belt of a long piece of cloth worn around the waist in layers.

qupča m. (pl. qupče) button

ziqa m. neck of a shirt

8.2. Men’s Clothes

kapanak m. (Kurd.) thick woolen cloak of shepherd

šərwala m. (pl. šərwalane) (Kurd.) trousers made from white cloth

təka f. cord for trousers

qayiš m. (pl. qayiše) (Kurd.) leather belt

ṣudṛa f. (pl. ṣudraha, ṣudrasa) shirt

jamadani f. a decorated cloth made into rolls and tied around a decorated hat

kusiyya, kusisa f. (pl. kusyaha, kusyasa) hat with a sash in the middle usually worn under the traditional headdress called jamadani

qabaya m. (pl. qabayane) (Kurd.) waistcoat

pašma=u barguzta (pl. pašma=u bargüze/barguze) (Kurd.) traditional festive suit

saqa m. (pl. saqe) legging (covering lower leg)

šütka, šutka (pl. šütke, šutke) long cloth belt turned many times around the waist

qundərta f. (pl. qundəre) shoes

8.3. Women’s Clothes

helaka m. (pl. helake ) waistcoat without sleeves

ṣudra f. (pl. ṣudraha, ṣudrasa) shirt

šala m. (pl. šale) (Kurd.) sash wrapped around waist

čarukta (pl. čarukyaha, čarukyasa) a traditional piece of cloth worn around one side of the waist by women, usually with sashes

dasmālka (pl. dasmālke) coloured piece of cloth worn by women on head, handkerchief

pošiyya f. (pl. pošyaha, pošiyyasa) festive head dress

kusiyya f. (pl. kusyaha, kusyasa) hat worn under the pošiyya

xürət/xurət ṣudṛa m. long undergarment ending with a coloured part above the feet)

qundərta f. (pl. qundəre) shoes

8.4. Shoes

liyane n.pl. snow shoes

pelawət lāstik n.pl. (Kurd.) rubber shoes

pelawta m. (pl. pelawe ) (Kurd.) shoes

qundərta f. (pl. qundəre) (Kurd./Turk.) leather shoes with heals

qaytan m. (pl. qaytane) shoe-lace

jazma f. (pl. jazma) long plastic shoes worn in winter

8.5. Fabrics

bara m. (pl. bare) (Kurd.) sheet

parča m. (pl. parče) (Kurd.) sheet of cloth

baza m. type of fabric

čapan f. white fabric

kənjəṛṛa m. (pl. kənjəṛṛe) (Kurd.) piece of (usually useless) cloth

čita m. (Kurd.) type of thin smooth fabric

čoxa f. (Kurd.) broadcloth, thick woolen fabric

grawa m. (Kurd.) off-white cotton fabric

ʾabresəm m. silk

jurjet m. type of velvet fabric

ləhefa m. (pl. ləhefe) (Kurd./Arab.) duvet

nəqša m. embroidery

prasta f. cloth spread on floor on which food is laid, spread, covering for floor (such as rug or carpet)

tatiyya m. (pl. tatiyye) mat made of compressed wool

maḥfərṭa f. (pl. maḥfəryaha, maḥfəryasa) (Kurd.) carpet

matraḥta f. (pl. matraḥyaha, matraḥyasa) (Arab.) small mat for sitting

zəqṛa m. (pl. zəqṛe) woven fabric

gota f. a ball of woven thread

bakara m. (pl. bakare) (Arab.) spool

8.6. Ropes and Ties

xawla m. (pl. xawle) rope

xawəlta f. (pl. xawəlyasa, xawəlyaha) short rope

patəka f. (pl. patəkyaha patəkyasa) (Kurd.) short rope tethering an animal to a stake, shorter than a xawəlta

hawsara m. (pl. hawsare) (Kurd.) rope for leading an animal

gzaza, gədda, gdāda (At.) m. (pl. gzāze gədde) string; thread

rəsta f. (pl. rəsyaha, rəsyasa) line (for hanging clothes)

səkka f. (pl. səkkake) tether

qəxṛa m. (pl. qəxṛe) knot

həmbaluqta f. (pl. həmbaluqyaha, həmbaluqyasa) loop, knot (joining two pieces of rope)

hečiyya m. (pl. hečiyye) a pronged piece of (oak) wood to used as a loop to tie loads on animals.

Abbreviations

Bibliography

Coghill, Eleanor. 2008. ‘Some Notable Features in North-Eastern Neo-Aramaic Dialects of Iraq’. In Neo-Aramaic Dialect Studies, edited by Geoffrey Khan, 91–104. Piscataway: Gorgias.

Haig, Geoffrey, and Geoffrey Khan, eds. 2018. The Languages and Linguistics of Western Asia: An Areal Perspective. The World of Linguistics 6. Berlin: De Gruyter.

Khan, Geoffrey. 2008. The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Barwar. 3 vols. Leiden: Brill.

Mutzafi, Hezy. 2000. ‘The Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Maha Khtaya d-Baz. Phonology, Morphology and Texts’. Journal of Semitic Studies 45 (2): 293–322.