Coptic Paradigms: A Summary of Sahidic Coptic Morphology

Facility in reading an ancient language requires several competencies: control of the morphology, a working vocabulary of common words and phrases, and a grasp of syntax. This pedagogical aide addresses the first of these by collecting the basic forms and patterns of Sahidic Coptic and presenting them in a convenient format. It is not a full grammar, but a supplement to a grammar. The work provides beginning students with an overview of the morphology of Sahidic Coptic so that they can see the whole of a part of speech or pattern as they learn discrete parts. It offers those who once learned Coptic but have not been able to maintain it with a concise review. While the work is not exhaustive, it is complete enough that it can serve as a useful reference for those who teach Coptic. The work was developed for a course in Coptic at the University of Notre Dame. It is offered in this venue with the hope that it will help students elsewhere.