Mehrsprachigkeit

Bilingualism and multilingualism are favourite topics within most philological studies for a couple of years. Since the 1960s bilingualism has been explored within Assyriology, also using transdisciplinary approaches inspired by methods from other studies. Sumero-Akkadian bilingualism was formative for more than 2,000 years for writers of cuneiform texts. These texts provide scholars with hints to the native languages of the writers and information among others on their conception of language and science, the development of religious ideas and lexical studies in antiquity. The multilingualism of Ugarit mirrors the interlacement of this eastern Mediterranean commercial centre. This inter- and transdisciplinary conference had in mind to provide Assyriological studies with current trends and methods.