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Coptic language

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nikodemos View Drop Down
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  Quote nikodemos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Coptic language
    Posted: 27-Sep-2006 at 14:11
Hallo.
Is the Coptic language descended from the ancient Egyptian language?
If yes then why is it called coptic and not egyptian language?
Could anyone enlighten please?
And finally the ultimate question:
Why did the ancient Egyptian language become a dead language.When did the common people in Egypt abandon this language?


Edited by nikodemos - 27-Sep-2006 at 14:14
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Komnenos View Drop Down
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  Quote Komnenos Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-Sep-2006 at 09:03
The Coptic language is indeed a direct descendant of the ancient Egyptian language, especially of its later demotic version, that featured in the Rosetta stone and enabled Champollion to decipher the hieroglyphs.
The reason why it's called "Coptic" is simple, it has only survived in the Coptic Christian Church, as the language of its liturgy. The language slowly but steadily disappeared in Egypt after the expansion of Islam in the 7th century, when Arabic became the dominant language.


Edited by Komnenos - 28-Sep-2006 at 09:06
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