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{{Infobox_Contents |
topic_name = Syriac |
subtopics = ... [[Aramaic]] |
opinion_pieces = {{short_opinions}} |
}}
During the 6th century the language began to diverge into Eastern and Western dialects. This was related to the ecclesiastical splits of the period following the Council of Ephesus in [[433]] (which condemned the Nestorians) and the Council of Chalcedon in [[450]] (which condemned the monophysites).
The East Syriac dialect and script is used by the [[Nestorian]]s, based in Persia, who spread the gospel along the Silk Route as far as China in the 7th century. A stele in Chinese and Syriac dated 781 AD was found in Xi'an<ref>[http://www.nestorian.org/a_bird_s_eye_view_of_the_syria.html A Bird's Eye View of the Syriac Language and Literature] from [http://www.nestorian.org|Nestorian.org]</ref>. Modern Mongolian is still written in Syriac letters. East Syriac script represents vowels by clouds of dots above and below the letters, when vowels are written at all.
The West Syriac dialect is used by the [[Monophysite]]s. This uses the Serto script. One innovation by [[Jacob of Edessa]] was the use of tiny Greek vowels written above and below the line to represent vowels. He also sought to get vowels written on the line like consonants, but in vain. West Syriac contains the richest collection of material translated from Greek.
* [http://www.premiumwanadoo.com/cuneiform.languages/syriac/ Syriac-English-French Online Dictionary]- limited
===Miscellaneous Links===
* [http://www.bethmardutho.org/ Beth Mardutho — The Syriac Institute]
* [http://syrcom.cua.edu/hugoye/ Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies]