Thank you for this lovely introduction to the fascinating literary world of this specific slice of Islamic literature and history. I'm wondering if your research involves encountering sources, literary pieces in al-hamiado, as well? Thanks again!
Hi Amela, Thanks for the kind words—glad you enjoyed it! I am not sure but I think you mean Aljamiado, e.g. romance languages written in Arabic? I have studied that a bit and was recently in Granada to learn more about Spanish-Arabic connections. I speak Spanish from childhood, so yes it’s of interest and is something I hope to work on more. Let me know if I misunderstood the question!
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for the reply. Forgive me! I misspelled Aljamiado, completely forgot the word's origin is in Spanish/Arabic and faultly wrote it in my own language (in Bosnian we write alhamijado but pronounce it the same as in Spanish). I forgot from my studies years ago if Aljamiado was widespread in the part of Caucasus that you research here or is it characteristic only to Spain, the Balkans, etc.?
Thanks! It's part of the regular curriculum of the Bosnian language and literature class, to get acquainted with at least some poets of the Ottoman period of Bosnia's history or at least it was when I went to school (admittedly, a long time ago). That's how we learn what alhamijado literature was in Bosnia specifically.
Hi Amela, Thanks for clarifying. You raise an interesting point. Indeed, Aljamiado is very widespread across the Muslim world but it goes by a different name in the Caucasus as well as Africa. There it is called simply 'ajami, a word that also exists in Arabic for non-Arab languages and peoples. It's interesting that you have the same term in Bosnian as in Spanish--I guess that signifies vernacularization and/or Turkic influence (the latter I would guess in the case of Bosnian). In any case, to put it simply, most vernacular languages in most parts of the Muslim world (definitely including the Caucasus) developed their own literatures in the Arabic script. Indeed, I just happened to come across this book which explains how it works in Africa https://menasearch.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/id%7Bcolon%7D1851564977. I see a lot of parallels between Africa and the Caucasus, but until now I had not considered it in the Balkans!
Yes, this is a fascinating subject, one that has a strong scholarship in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since I learned about alhamijado literature in school (primary and secondary). I'll try and dig a bit about it and share interesting points/questions here. You have awakened old interests in me with this thread, thanks!
Thank you for this lovely introduction to the fascinating literary world of this specific slice of Islamic literature and history. I'm wondering if your research involves encountering sources, literary pieces in al-hamiado, as well? Thanks again!
Hi Amela, Thanks for the kind words—glad you enjoyed it! I am not sure but I think you mean Aljamiado, e.g. romance languages written in Arabic? I have studied that a bit and was recently in Granada to learn more about Spanish-Arabic connections. I speak Spanish from childhood, so yes it’s of interest and is something I hope to work on more. Let me know if I misunderstood the question!
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for the reply. Forgive me! I misspelled Aljamiado, completely forgot the word's origin is in Spanish/Arabic and faultly wrote it in my own language (in Bosnian we write alhamijado but pronounce it the same as in Spanish). I forgot from my studies years ago if Aljamiado was widespread in the part of Caucasus that you research here or is it characteristic only to Spain, the Balkans, etc.?
I’m looking forward to what you discover! And am also impressed that you were learning about this in primary and secondary school!
Thanks! It's part of the regular curriculum of the Bosnian language and literature class, to get acquainted with at least some poets of the Ottoman period of Bosnia's history or at least it was when I went to school (admittedly, a long time ago). That's how we learn what alhamijado literature was in Bosnia specifically.
Hi Amela, Thanks for clarifying. You raise an interesting point. Indeed, Aljamiado is very widespread across the Muslim world but it goes by a different name in the Caucasus as well as Africa. There it is called simply 'ajami, a word that also exists in Arabic for non-Arab languages and peoples. It's interesting that you have the same term in Bosnian as in Spanish--I guess that signifies vernacularization and/or Turkic influence (the latter I would guess in the case of Bosnian). In any case, to put it simply, most vernacular languages in most parts of the Muslim world (definitely including the Caucasus) developed their own literatures in the Arabic script. Indeed, I just happened to come across this book which explains how it works in Africa https://menasearch.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/id%7Bcolon%7D1851564977. I see a lot of parallels between Africa and the Caucasus, but until now I had not considered it in the Balkans!
Yes, this is a fascinating subject, one that has a strong scholarship in Bosnia and Herzegovina, since I learned about alhamijado literature in school (primary and secondary). I'll try and dig a bit about it and share interesting points/questions here. You have awakened old interests in me with this thread, thanks!
I have an edition of the Arabian nights that includes a whole section on jinns. Super cool to learn more
Fascinating! Jinns seem to change shape and function depending on the culture .