Syriac studies is the study of the Syriac language and Syriac Christianity. A specialist in Syriac studies is known as a Syriacist. Specifically, British, French, and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Syriac/Aramaic language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when the Syriac language was little understood outside Assyrian, Syriac Christian and Maronite Christian communities. In Germany the field of study is distinguished between Aramaistik (Aramaic studies) and Neuaramaistik (Neo-Aramaic (Syriac) studies). At universities Syriac studies are mostly incorporated into a more 'general' field of studies, such as Eastern Christianity at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Aramaic studies at the University of Oxford and University of Leiden, Eastern Christianity at Duke University, or Semitic studies at the Freie Universität Berlin. Most students learn the Syriac language within a biblical studies program. Conferences for Syriac studies include the Symposium Syriacum, the Section "Bible and Syriac Studies in Context" at the International Meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature, and the Section "Syriac Literature and Interpretations of Sacred Texts" at the Annual Meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature. Syriac academic journals include the annual Oriens Christianus (Wiesbaden) and Syriac Studies Today. Syriaca.org is a centralized academic portal for Syriac studies. See also Assyrian people Assyrianism Assyria Assyrian continuity Aramea Arameanism Phoenicia Phoenicianism Syriac Christianity Assyrian Church of the East Syriac Orthodox Church Chaldean Catholic Church Nestorian Church Ancient Church of the East Maronite Church Syriac Catholic Church Assyrian Pentecostal Church Assyrian Evangelical Church Etymology of Syria Names for Syriac Christians Mesopotamian religion Syriac alphabet Syriac literature Peshitta Ephrem the Syrian Assyrian culture Assyrian music Syriac sacral music Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium Eastern Aramaic Turoyo Syrian Arabic References External links Sebastian P. Brock, The Contribution of Departed Syriacists, 1997-2006† , HUGOYE: JOURNAL OF SYRIAC STUDIES Syriac Christianity Middle Eastern studies Aramaic languages Cultural studies Semitic studies