Shabo Talay

Professor Shabo Talay is a distinguished scholar of Semitic Studies serving as Professor of Semitic Studies at the Seminar for Semitic and Arabic Studies within the Department of History and Cultural Studies at Freie Universität Berlin. He also holds the position of Dean of the Department of History and Cultural Studies. His academic journey spans institutions across Germany, Norway, and international collaborations, with expertise concentrated in Semitic languages, particularly Arabic and Neo-Aramaic dialects.

Professor Talay's research interests encompass a wide spectrum of Semitic linguistics, including Arabic dialectology, Neo-Aramaic studies (particularly Turoyo/Surayt), Syriac Christianity, and the cultural history of Middle Eastern Christian communities. His work bridges linguistic analysis with historical and cultural documentation, focusing on endangered languages and minority communities in the Middle East. He has conducted extensive fieldwork across Syria, Turkey, Iran, and diaspora communities in Europe and North America, documenting linguistic varieties that are rapidly disappearing.

His scholarly contributions reveal a strong emphasis on language documentation and preservation, particularly through digital initiatives like the Aramaic Online Project and Surayt-Aramaic Online Project. These multilingual educational platforms represent significant efforts to standardize and teach endangered Neo-Aramaic languages. His publication record demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical linguistic questions and practical language preservation efforts, with particular attention to the impact of historical events like the Sayfo genocide on linguistic and cultural continuity.

• Habilitationspreis der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (2006)

Professor Talay has secured substantial research funding from organizations including the Fritz Thyssen Foundation and EU Erasmus+ programs, directing major collaborative projects that span multiple countries. His academic leadership extends to organizing numerous international conferences and workshops focused on Semitic languages and Syriac studies. He serves on editorial boards for significant publications in the field and maintains active membership in multiple scholarly societies dedicated to Middle Eastern studies and Semitic linguistics.