The Recently Extinct Jewish Neo-Aramaic Dialect of Sandu and Its Dialectal Affiliations

This article examines salient features of the little-known Jewish Neo-Aramaic (na) dialect of Sandu (northern Iraq). These features are presented in the context of establishing the dialectological position of Sandu na as part of the Barzani-Sandu, or Central Jewish na, subgroup of nena. Various isoglosses that connect Sandu na to other Jewish nena varieties, primarily Barzani and Lishana Deni, are presented. Some of these isoglosses likely represent areal features that diffused among na-speaking Jewish communities across extensive regions of nena. Additionally, the article demonstrates that beyond typical Jewish na traits and cross-correspondences with other nena varieties, Sandu na exhibits unique features as a distinctive dialect of nena.