This article examines one of the dialectal features of Roman Demotic texts
(30 BC- 500 AD) from the Fayoum known as ‘lambdacism’ (the substitution
of the letter “R” with the letter “L”). This feature is considered one of the
most important characteristics of the Fayoum Coptic dialect. Undoubtedly,
the use of a spelling system in Demotic writing, along with the expansion of
the alphabet, especially during the Roman period compared to earlier periods,
contributed
to
bringing
Demotic
closer
to
the
spoken
language.
This
phenomenon was observed through the study and analysis of over a thousand
Demotic
texts
(documentary
and
literary).
This
study
reveals
that
this
phenomenon exists in some literary Demotic texts. The linguistic significance
of this study lies in the fact that it provides phonetic evidence demonstrating
the use of spoken language by some scribes in writing.
Keywords
Pre-Coptic;
Demotic;
Dialect;
Lambdacism;
Fayoum.
QALAMOS
Heritage Studies
Vol. 2, Issue 2, pp. 1-18
Published: June 2026
ID : QALAMOS.2.2.6.2026.001
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22734826
A Pre-Coptic Dialectal Feature in
Roman Demotic Texts from Fayoum:
Evidence for Lambdacism
Rania Soliman
1*
, Ola El aguizy
2
& Maher Eissa
3
*
raniademotic@hotmail.com
1
PhD Candidate, Fayoum University, Egypt
2
Professor of Ancient Egyptian language – Cairo University.
3
Professor of Egyptology/ Coptology - Fayoum University.
Abstract
Received: Feb. 18, 2026
Accepted: March 30, 2026
Published: June 30, 2026
Conflict of Interest: None declared
Funding: Not applicable
Author(s) Contributions:
Author 1.
Rania Soliman
:
Transcription, codicology, and drafting.
Author 2.
Ola El aguizy
:
Supervision, contextualization, and verification.
Author 3.
Maher Eissa
:
Supervision, contextualization, and verification.
pg. 2
1.
Introduction
The term "dialect" is associated among scholars of ancient Egyptian with the Coptic language,
but, Baillet’s study of the decrees of Canopus and Memphis led scholars in the last quarter of
the
nineteenth
century
to
accept
the
idea
of
the
existence
of
dialects
in
Pre-Coptic
Egypt
(Baillet, 1905, pp.77-91; Winand, 2015, p. 237). In addition to it, some researchers considered
the existence of dialects in ancient Egypt to be self-evident, and Griffith stated that Egypt's
extension of more than a thousand kilometers was in itself evidence of the existence of dialects,
additionally, the development of the ancient Egyptian language was not a straight line from
ancient Egyptian to Coptic; rather, dialects played an important role, as Coptic dialects are an
extension of the dialects of the ancient Egyptian language (Winand, 2015, p. 233
.
; Eissa, 2015,
p. 89).
1.1 Definition of dialect
Dialect
is
a
set
of
linguistic
characteristics
specific
to
a
particular
geographical
and
environmental region or a specific ethnic group; this difference distinguishes it from the main
language, keeping in mind that dialectal characteristics are limited so as not to make the dialect
strange and difficult to understand among speakers of the same language (Eissa, 2015, p. 87).
1.2 Factors in the emergence of dialect
There are three factors that influence the emergence of the dialect. The first and most important
is the geographical factor, the second is the environmental factor, and the third is the factor of
population mixing (migration - trade) (Eissa, 2015, p. 88).
There is no doubt that the distinctive geographical location of Fayoum, which is a depression
located west of the Nile Valley, 100 kilometers southwest of Cairo, in the Libyan Desert, and
which consists horizontally of three terraces (Derda, 2006, p. 8-9), led to the diversity of its
topography and consequently the diversity of its environments, including cultivated land, lakes,
and deserts. Regarding population mixing, it cannot be ignored that Libya borders Fayoum
across the Western Desert, and this
mixing
through trade may have had an impact
on the
language, all these factors had an impact on the emergence of the dialect.
Evidence of the difference in dialect was found in a letter dating back to 1200 BC, in which a
person from Upper Egypt complained about the lack of clarity in the language of a letter sender
from Lower Egypt. The vastness of Egypt led to dialect differences, both in spoken and written
language (Eissa, 2015, p. 89), [
nAy.k sDd sHw.t Hr ns.t.j mn Hr-tp sp.t.j jw.w txtx m sDm bn
Aaa wHa.f st st mj md.t n s jdHw Hna s n Abw
] = “Your words are regrouped on my tongue and
remained fixed on my lips. They are so confused when heard that there is no interpreter who
can explain them. They are like a conversation between a man of the Delta and a man of
Elephantine” (P. Anastasi I, 28, 5-6) (Winand, 2015, p.241).
Dialects have left traces in writing since the Old Kingdom in all aspects of the language, but
the evidence proving this, for several reasons mentioned by Winand in one of his articles,
presents a significant challenge. He pointed out that manifestations of dialectal diversity are
limited (Winand, 2015, p.256; Winand, 2018, pp.494-495; Winand, 2022, p.14).
2. The selected corpus of texts
This study relied on the examination of more than a thousand published Roman Demotic texts
(30 BC – 500 AD), which were written in Fayoum, and through the chart below
fig. 1
, the texts
were classified according to their type into documentary texts and literary texts, taking into
consideration the place where the text was written (as in the Trismegistus database). It is clear
from the diagram below that the selected collection of texts is concentrated in three main areas
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
3
located on the edge of Fayoum, Dimeh, Tebtynis, and Madinat Madi. In addition to one text
from Hawara, another text from Kom Ushim and a few texts are unknown where they are
written.
Figure 1.
A Chart for Roman Demotic texts from Fayoum, by Rania Soliman
3. Orthography and Phonology in Roman Demotic
The use of the orthographic style in writing Demotic, the “phonetic style” as opposed to the
previously used style called the "spelling style," made it closer to the spoken language (Eissa,
2015,
p.
29),
bearing
in
mind
that
no
written
text
can
accurately
reflect
spoken
language
(Ray,1994, p. 252). Additionally, Demotic is a late stage of the ancient Egyptian language,
situated between Late Egyptian and Coptic, making it a pivotal stage between them, and Late
Demotic has characteristics related to the Coptic language (Brugsch,1855, p.9; Quack, 2006,
pp.191-216),
where
Ostraca
of
Madi
to
be
linguistically
closer
to
Coptic
than
to
Demotic
(Quack, 2017, pp. 27-96). But there are those who believe that
systematic research into the
characteristics of dialects in the Demotic language is essentially absent (Frank, 2022, p.447)
.
4. Investigative subject
This paper aims to identify a dialectal feature in Demotic texts from Fayoum during the Roman
era (30 BC – 500 AD). Based on the principle that phonetics is a fundamental criterion for
studying dialects, and that Coptic dialects reflect an older dialect from which they descended,
this study focuses on the phenomenon of Lambdacism in Roman Demotic texts from Fayoum.
This phenomenon represents one of the most important characteristics of the Fayoum Coptic
dialect, where the letter (L) replaces the letter (R). This phonetic change may have resulted
from linguistic contact between the native and immigrants.
It is worth noting that this phenomenon has been observed in Ptolemaic texts, but only in a few
texts, such as (
1wt- wly =
Hawara, P.BM 10604, L.4), (
4bk
L
-Hnv =
Sobek of Ilahun, P.Vogl.demot. Inv.177,178,B, L.19), both the previous examples
from Tebtynis.
pg. 4
The
table
below
shows
a
set
of
examples,
including
nouns,
adjectives,
and
verbs,
which
represent phonetic evidence of the use of spoken language in writing before Coptic in general
and in Demotic texts in particular.
By comparing this set with its counterparts in the Fayoum
Coptic dialect to prove the existence of this phenomenon under investigation.
yar =
River, Canal (Erichsen, 1954, p.150)
yal
ιααλ
F
(Crum,1939, p 82a)
Transliteratio
n (F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Examples
Pl.
Yayl
In Xny .k nA yaly =
Have you rowed overs the river? (B04,
col.6, L.15).
Dimeh
yal
xpr.f r
˹
mn t-bl
˺
Hr
˹
tA
˺
˹
mlA
˺
n-Hr r nA pA yal.=
Monthbaal was with the fleet at the river., P. Inaros,
col.22, L.4 (Hoffmann, 1996, p. 363).
Dimeh
As
˹
t
˺
nb.
˹
t
˺
yal
= Isis, lady of the river.
P.Berl.6750, col.6,L.4 (Widmer, 2015, p.104).
Dimeh
In Xny.k nA yal .
˹
w
˺
? =
Have you rowed over the rivers.
P.L01.5/10/15 (Richard & Zauzich,2005, P.296 -297).
Dimeh
Swv n pA yal =
Merchant of the river.P.
Carls.594,frag1,L.22 (Quack,2019 ,P.398-399).
Teb.
m-ir pt r -iri Dy -yal =
Don’t run to cross the river.
P.Carls.143vo , L.1(Quack.2019,P.304).
Teb.
Hf yal =
snake of the river .P.Carls.649,Frag.1 col.2,Y+L.4
(Quack & Ryholt, 2019, p.196).
Teb
pA yal =
El –Fayoum. OMM 661,L.4.
(Gallo
,1997, P.23)
Madi
arb
=
Pledge (
Erichsen,1954, p.7; Johnson,2001, p.44)
Alb
ⲗⲏⲃ
(Crum,1939, p.15a)
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
Alb
Iw.w di.t n.f Alb iw s
nti nb st Dd n.f iw.k wDA =
If you
give him something as Pledge, you tell him: "You are
well". P.Carls.13, bII, L.3. (Volten, 1942, p. 84)
Teb.
arD
=
Encourage, firm (Johnson
, 2001, p.107)
AlD
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
5
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
AlD
˹
iw
˺
.i AlD pA mSa =
I will encourage the army. P.Inaros,col.11,
L.19 (Hoffmann,1996,P.252) .
Dimeh
Iw.w ab n.im.w r AlD n nA Swt.w =
they brand them in order to be
firm
with
the
whips.
P.Carls.421,
frag.1,
col.1,
L.2
(Ryholt,
2019, pp.104-115).
Teb
Wr
= great (Johnson, 2001, p. 107)
wly
ⲟⲩ
η
ⲗ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.488b).
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
wly
Ga wly =
The great chapel
.
P.Berl.6750, col.5,L.17
(Widmer, 2015, p.102).
Dimeh
1w.t-tA-1r wly
= Hathor the great. P.Berl. 8750, col.2,L.24
(Widmer, 2015, p.313).
Dimeh
mAa.t wly.t =
Maat the great.P.Berl.8043, col.2,L.6 (Stadler,
2022, p.100).
Dimeh
Ist wly.t = Isis
the great. P. Carls.652, frag.1, L.4 (Quack,
2019, pp.38 – 50 ).
Teb.
Wsr
=
Strong (
Erichsen
,1954, p. 100)
wsl
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
wsl
Iw.k wsl m-sA T.v.k =
You will be strong after being seized.
P.Wien D 12006,col.5, L.7 (Stadler
,2004, p. 69).
Dimeh
P.Berl.8043vo,col.5,L.
1
Dimeh
Br =
Ship (
Erichsen,1954, pp. 119, 122)
byl / byly
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
byl
[tA] byl …… Xn pA y
˹
m
˺
=
The ship ……..on the sea.
P. Wien D 12006,col.1,L.24 (Stadler,2004,P.50) .
Dimeh
pg. 6
byly
Byly '
40 = 40 ships. P.Inaros,col.14,L.8 (Hoffmann,1996,
p.293-294).
Dimeh
Byr =
basket (
Erichsen
.1954, p.112)
bly
βιλ
F
( Crum, 1939, 41b).
Translitration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
bly
OMM 579,L.3 (Gallo, 1997, p.52).
Madi
par =
quail (Johnson, 2001, p.45)
ply
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
ply
In sn.k tA ply.t =
Have you honored the quail. P.L01,
col.4,L.19 (Richard & Zauzich, 2005, pp.355- 356).
Dimeh
prty
=
Honor
(Johnson, 2001, p.138-139)
plvj
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
plvj
Mtw .w plvy.f Dr.w rmT nb=
They will all honor him, every
single
person.
P.Berl.8345,col.3,L.5
(Hughes,
1983,
pp.53-69).
Dimeh
mr =
bind
(
Johnson,2001, pp.140,160).
mly
ⲙⲉⲗⲗⲓ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.180a-b)
.
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
mly
nAw Dam isj iw ir st tA mlj
= These old documents and bind
them. OMM 350 ,L.4.( Gallo
,1997, p.35-36).
Madi
Iw ir nA Dam wa.t mly =
Put the documents in one package.
OMM 1199, L.9 (Gallo, 1997, p.86)
.
Madi
Ry
= Room / side (Erichsen,1954, p.241; Johnson, 2001, p.11)
lA
ⲗⲓ
F
(Crum,1939,
pp. 287b-288a).
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
pA ip n
[
tbH].w
(
n
)
tA lA.t
(
n
)
nA mAy.w
=
The registry of
equipment of the side /cell of the lionesses. Berlin 6848,
col.3, L.6 (Dousa, 2004, pp. 139-122).
Dimeh
Dimeh
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
7
lA
nb
(
.t
)
ISl –mnmn 1s.t wa.t-lA
(
.t
)
Xr-s
(
.t
)
1r Ast m 6Se m
=
P. Berlin 6750,col.6,L.6 (Widmer, 2015, p. 104).
lA.t Sbi iwt.w
=
switch side between them .P.CG. 50142,
L.5 (Spiegelberg, 1932, pp.103-105).
Teb
P.Carls.4,col.2,L.26
Teb
= side .P.Carls.448,frag.10,L.1
Teb.
Mj Sm iw tA lA tA qt.t =
go to cow's room. OMM 67, L.1,2
(Gallo,1997, p.48).
Madi
Tms tAy.k SSv Xn wa lA iw.s Hp =
bury your debt document
in a secret room. OMM 179, L.4 (Sara & Chiara, 2006,
p.126).
Madi
rwS =
care (Erichsen, 1954, p.243)
lwS
ⲗⲁⲟⲩϣ
F
(Crum, 1939, p. 307a).
Translitration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
lwS
P.Carls.13bII,L.16 (Volten, 1942, p. 84).
Teb.
OMM 1,L.5 (Giannotti &
Gorini, 2006, p.107).
Madi
lwS iw anx gA =
be concerned with the bunch of flowers.
OMM 2, L.13 (Gallo, 1997, pp. 32-34).
Madi
rwv =
fresh / diligent (Erichsen, 1954, p.247)
lwv
ⲗⲟⲩⲁⲧ
F
(Crum,1939,490a).
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
lwt
nti nXb
˹
DAw
˺
an twn .w iw.w lwt
˹
iw.w
˺
rSy =
which in turn
breathe the air. They rose, being fresh and rejoiced.
P.Carls.416, frag.1, L.11 (Quack, 2019, pp.1-3).
Teb.
lwv
iw ir.k lwv =
Be diligent. OMM 252,L.5 (Gallo, 1997,
p.50).
Madi
pg. 8
rm=
fish
lm / lym / lmA
ⲗⲓⲙⲓ
F
(Crum,1939,294a).
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
lm
di.(t ) Sb nb mr.f di.(t) wsj m Vaj HAti nb lm aSAj ipt
= He who
gives any food to whomever he wills, who gives strength at
the level of the heart, lord of fish, numerous in birds. P.Wien
D 10100C, L.18 (Vittmann, 2003, pp.106-136).
Dimeh
lym
= Fish (V.)
P.L.01.5,col.10,L.3(Richard J. & Zauzich, K-Th., 2005,
P.295).
Dimeh
P.Inaros col.18,L.4
Dimeh
lmA
Ky lmA iw.w r in tAy.f XlA =
other kinds of fish: they will bring
his provisions.
P.Carls.649,frag.1,col.2,L.3 (Quack, 2019,
pp.196-216).
Teb
rmy =
cry/ tear (Erichsen, 1954, p.246)
lmy
ⲗⲓⲙⲓ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.294a).
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
lmy
Xnv.
˹
imnt
˺
lmy n.f Sna.w lw.w im(y).
˹
iir
˺
.w =
who presides
over the West, the circuit (of the heaven) and all the districts
that are in it will weep for him. P. Berlin 6750,col.1,L.9
(Widmer, 2015, p.87).
Dimeh
lmy T-nfr =
Tainnefer wept. P.
Inaros col.12, L.12
(Hoffmann,1996, Pp 267).
Dimeh
lmy pr- 1apy =
Let Nilopolis weep. P. Wien D 10000,2, L.15
(Chauveau, 2017, p.41).
Dimeh
P.Carls.6,C1,III,L.18
Teb
P.Carls.448,frag.3,L)
Teb.
Madi
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
9
Iw.ir.k ir Sjv pA tA Sa lmj r nA.w ir.f pA TAj HAt-sp 8 =
when you
became very angry
o the point of crying, for what he had
done from the eighth year,…… OMM 1300, L.4 .(Menchetti
,2005, p.105).
rms
= ship
(Erichsen,1954, p.247
)
lms
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
lms
˹
ti
˺
.w awj m
˹
n
˺
j n pA lms =
landing place was given to the ship.
P.Inaros,col.17,L.30. (Hoffmann, 2015, p. 328).
Dimeh
r bn iw mtw.k lms tktk =
if you do not have a raft, harry.
P.Carls.143vo. ,L.3 (Quack, 2019, pp. 304-305).
Teb.
0rwt =
feast (Erichsen, 1954, p.279)
0lwt
Translitration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
0lwt
( P.Inaros ,col.2,L.31)
Dimeh
[ir.w] hlwt irm.s =
[ made] feast with her. P.Carls.6,C1,II,L.12
(Ryholt, 2006. pp. 32-33).
Teb.
Ir.y hlwt irm nAy.j =
I made feast with my … .P.Carls.6,CI,III,
L.10.(Ryholt, 2006, pp. 47- 48).
Teb.
[Bn-pw.k ] Hmsy r Hlwt = [
you have not] sat down at the feast.
P.Carls.207,col.1,L.4 (Tait,1991, P.19-46).
Teb.
0lwv
tAhm st pr-aA r tA hlwt =
Pharaoh invited them to the feast.
P.CtYBR 442, L.3 (Quack, 2019, p. 162).
Teb.
Hwr =
rob (Johnson, 2001, p.75)
Hwl / Hwla
ϩ
ⲁⲗⲉ
ϩ
F
(Crum, 1939, P.737b).
.
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
Hwl
Ir.s nb nkt Hwl
= She will become the mistress of stolen
property. P.Berl.15680,col.2,L.32 (Zauzich
, 2012, pp.358-
361).
Dimeh
Dimeh
pg. 10
Hwla
i.ir 1r sA ist T pA tA Dr.f [n] pAy Sn iw.f ir
˹
Hry pAy wn
˺
nA.w
˹
T n im.f
˺
[n] Hwla [n] Dr.v.f . =
She will become the mistress
of stolen property. P.Wien 1, 2006, col.5, L.24 (Stadler, 2004,
p.71).
P.Carls.399,frag.a,L.5 (Quack, 2002, pp.
253-274).
Teb.
Hwl
Hwl.f =
He stole. OMM 21, L.13 (Bresciani,1983, pp.19-20).
Madi
Hrr =
Delay; To hurry ( Johnson,2001,236)
Hllj
/
Hljl /
Hrlj
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
Hllj
Dd m-ir ir Hlly t tA
˹
Dany
˺
tbA hyny mt iw.j wxA.
˹
k
˺
n.im.w =
………, saying: hasten to Tanis about things concerning you!
P.Inaros,col.8,L.32 (Hoffmann,1996,P.210).
Dimeh
mAa n anx bw ir.k
˹
H
˺
b Xn pA tbl nt iw.k in-na.k n-im.s wn
Hlly n-im.s =
Do not leave your habitat lest you grieve in the
sheepfold. That into which you have come, there is delay in it.
P.Wien D 12006,col.4,L.11 (Stadler, 2004, p.64)
Dimeh
pAy.s pky iAbi iw.s ir mSa aSAy r mn Hw n-im.w Hrly m-
sA
˹
.w
˺
.=
[If she (the gecko)] falls on her right side, she will
undertake many things that are not worth rushing into(?).
P.Berl.15680,col.2,L.14 ( Zauzich, 2012, p.360)
.
Dimeh
Hljl
[ pA mr ] -mSa [ pA ] rmT NA-tA-Hw.t m-ir Hlyl r tA s.t swnw =
The general, the man of Natho-Nut! Do not delay to go to the
physician’s place. P.Carls.442,frag.2,L.8.( Sérida,
2016, pp.9-
10)
.
Teb
P.Petese Teb A,col.1,L.24 (Ryholt, 1999, pp.13,147).
Teb.
di xpr Hlyl =
Cause delay. P.Petese II, frag.C1,col.3,L.6
(Ryholt, 2000, pp.47- 48).
Teb.
Hrlj
[ bn.p.f ] xAa n.f Hlly =
He did not delay.P.Carls.207,col.1,
L.24 (Quack, 2000, p.141-163).
Teb.
Hmr =
armful (Johnson,2001,143)
Hml
ϩ
ⲁⲙⲏⲗ
F
( Crum, 1939, p.679a).
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
11
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form (F.)
Ex
Pl.
Hml
Hml n nmv =
powerful of embrace. P.Inaros,col.23,L.7
(Hoffmann
, 1996 , P.372) .
Dimeh
HrH =
guard / beware (Erichsen, 1954, p.326)
HlH
ϩⲁⲗⲉϩ
F
(
Crum, 1939, 707b-
708b).
Translitration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
HlH
pAy.i Hry HlH r Hr.k =
My Lord! Beware. P.Inaros, col.12,
L.13 (Hoffmann, 1996, p.267.)
Dimeh
HlH r nAw bnj Xn pA HD =
keep these dates in the storage
room. OMM 252,L.1 (Gallo, 1997, p.50).
Madi
OMM 555,L.4 (Menchetti, 2000, p.146)
Madi
HrS =
strong / heavy (Erichsen ,1954, p.327)
HlS /
HlV
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
HlS /
HlV
Nty mlX [irm]
˹
nA
˺
kA.w HlS =
who fights with heavy (strong)
bulls .P.Inaros,col.17,L.6 (Hoffmann, 1996, p.320).
Dimeh
P.L01,col.4,L7 ((Richard & Zauzich,2005, P. )
Dimeh
HlS
˹
.f
˺
s n s ti mH.f.s =
It was heavy to throw. P.CG. 50142,
L.25 (Spiegelberg, 1932, pp.103-105) .
Teb.
P.Carls.421,col.2,frag.2,L.3 (Ryholt, 2012, pp.103-130).
Teb
P.CG.50137,L.8 (Spiegelberg, 1932, pp.97-98)
Teb.
`
Bn iw.y HlS =
I will not be slow in [ serving]. OMM 804cc (Sara
& Chaira, 2006, p.123).
Madi
GA r tb pAy.f HlS
=
be silent because of his oppression. OMM
893, L.4 (Bresciani, 1983, p.13).
Madi
Xar =
angry (Erichsen, 1954, p.351)
xAly / Xaly / Saly/ Sly
ϣ
ⲗⲓ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.
583b).
pg. 12
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
xAly /
V
aly
nAy.s nTr.w ualy r.r.s =
her gods will be angry with her.
P.Berl.15680,col.2,L.5 (Zauzich, 2012, pp. 357-358).
Dimeh
P.Wien D 12006,col1,L21(Stadler, 2004, p.49).
Dimeh
xAly.f. ..
[ m] qty pA y =
He became angry [ like the sea].
P.Inaros, col.16,L.13(Hoffmann,1996,P.313) .
Dimeh
Saly/ Sly
Saly. f m qty pA ym =
He raged like the sea. Petese II,C1,col.1,
L.2 (Ryholt ,2006, pp. 31-32).
Teb.
wAH.f di ir pA Sm Sly
=He has made my father-in-law furious.
OMM 1345,L.13(Menchetti, 2005, p.112).
Madi
xar =
leather
(Erichsen 1954, P.352)
xlA
ϣ
ⲁⲁⲗ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.582a-b)
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
xlA
xlA tSy =
Red leather .P.Inaros ,col.13,L.5 (Hoffmann, 1996, p. 280).
Dimeh
Xr.t =
widow (Erichsen, 1954, p.390)
Xly.t
Translitration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
Xly.t
P. Carlsberg 448,frag.12,L.9 ( Serida, 2016, p.25).
Teb.
Xr.t
= food (Erichsen, 1954, p.389)
XlA
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
XlA
P.Wien 12006,col.4,L.19. (Stadler,2004,P.312.)
Dimeh
P.Petese .Teb.B.,L.15.
Teb.
P.Carls.649,frag.1,col.2,L.3( Quack,2019, P.196).
Teb.
P.Psi D 88,L.3
Teb.
P. Teb Tait 15,L.12
Teb
Xrb =
Form
Xlb
/
Xbl
Transliteration
Demotic Form
Ex
Pl.
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
13
(F.)
(F.)
Xlb
/
Xbl
wtne 1r-pA-Sr (n) As.t m rn.f nb 1r m Xlb.f
= offerings (to)
Horus son of Isis in all his names, Horus in each of his forms.
P.Berl.6750, col.6,L.7 (Widmer, 2015, p.105).
Dimeh
Ix tAy.w btw nAy.w Xbl.w =
what is their nature and their forms?.
P.L01.5,10,15 (Richard & Zauzich, 2005, pp. 296- 297).
Dimeh
L01,3/20 (Richard & Zauzich, 2005, P. 224 ).
Dimeh
sgr =
to sail / sailing (Erichsen, 1954, p.470)
sgl / skl
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex
Pl.
sgl / skl
ir .f sgl
= I have made sailing .P.B04,col.6,L.12 (Richard
& Zauzich, 2005, p.312).
Dimeh
Iw.f sgl grh
˹
m-qty
˺
mtly
= Sailing by night and by day.
P.Wien D 6920-6922 (Hoffmann, 1996, p.176).
Dimeh
pA Imn.t pA iAb.t skl
= The people of the west and east
sailed. P.Inaros,col.8,L.11(Hoffmann,1996, p.199).
Dimeh
[Ir.f ]skl r rsy lbt
= He set sail southward to Abydos.
P.Carls.207,col.2 ,L.10 (Quack, 2000, p.149) .
Teb.
Qrf =
Cunning (Johnson ,2001, p.60)
qlf
ⲕⲗⲁ
ϥ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.118b)
.
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
Qlf
n-T-n-T nA.w qlf pA nty xpr i.ir
= From the point where cunning
is needed. P.Inaros, col.11, L.32 (Hoffmann, 1996, pp.259-260)
.
Dimeh
vrp =
sew (Johnson, 2001, p.259)
twpl
Τωπλ
F
(Crum, 1939, p.431a).
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
twpl
P.Carls.421,frag.2,L.6 (Ryholt, 2013, p.111).
Teb.
pg. 14
trt =
Staircase (Erichsen, 1954, p.649)
tlv
TωλΤελ
F
(Crum, 1939,
p.432a).
Transliteration
(F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
tlv
[Ts sd ] n As.t Hna nb.t
˹
H.t
˺
(r) tlv nb s.t [wr.t] =
Arise, Isis
and Nephthys, at the stairway of the Lord of the Great
Throne. (P.Berl.8043vo,col.6, L.14
Dimeh
dHr =
sad (Johnson, 2001, p.73)
tHl
ⲧ
ϩ
ⲟ
( Crum,1939, p.432a).
Translitration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
tHl
HAty.i tHl =
My heart is sad.P.Inaros.col.22, L.8 (Hoffmann,
1996, p.364-365).
Dimeh
P.Carls.4,col.2, L.25
Teb.
P.Carls.6,C1,III,,L.20
Teb.
P.Carls.448,fra.12,L.8 (Serida, 2016, p.25).
Teb.
Dsr/tsr =
Sacred (Erichsen, 1954, p.656 )
tsly
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
tsly
P.B05.,L.7 (Richard & Zauzich, 2005, p.536).
Teb.
twA.t tsly =
Holy Land .P.Berl.15652,col.3,L.1 (Stadler, 2022,
p.417).
Dimeh
˹
[twA]
˹
t
˺
wA(.t).k m
˹
twA(.t)
˺
tsly.t
˹
m 1r
˺
Hq
˹
idb.w
˺.
P.Berl.6750 , col.1,L.4 (Widmer, 2015, p.87).
Dimeh
dSry =
Red crown
tSly
Transliteration
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
tSly
Xnmw.v.k tA tSly.t =
you will the red crown. P.Berl.6750, col.9,
L.2 (Widmer,2015,P.117).
Dimeh
P.L01,col.1,L.8
Dimeh
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
15
Drm =
move / touch (Erichsen, 1954, p.684)
Dlm
ϫⲱⲗⲙ
F
(Crum, 1939,
p.785b).
Transliteration
( F.)
Demotic Form
(F.)
Ex.
Pl.
Dlm
i.ir nAy.w Dlm =
Who make their movements .P.Wien
12006,col.4, L.7 (Stadler, 2004, p.63) .
Dimeh
5. Analysis and Commentary
It is worth noting that this phenomenon has appeared in Demotic literary texts. Undoubtedly,
Demotic stories are linked to the traditions and practices of oral storytelling. By the early
Roman period, Egyptian literature was the preserve of the priests of the Egyptian temples.
Furthermore,
this phenomenon was found in texts from sites located on the edge of the Fayoum,
such as Dimeh, Tebtynis, and Madi.
It is important to consider what Quake pointed out: that
most literary texts from the Roman era are reformulations of earlier texts, so new linguistic
structures are rarely found in them, and thus the use of Classical Demotic remained prevalent.
This
phenomenon
was
used
in
writing
the
petition
(OMM
1300,1345)
and
both
are
documentary texts from Madi, and perhaps the writer's use of spoken language in writing a
documentary text indicates a low level of his education.
It is clear from the examples above that writing the letter L instead of R in most Demotic literary
texts is consistent with one of the most important features of the Fayoum Coptic dialect
,
which
is Lambdacism.
Alb
ληβ
=
pledge
yal
ιααλ
=
River
wly
ογηλ
=
Great
byl
βιλ
=
Basket
mly
μελλι
=
Bind
lA
λι
= Room
lwv
λογατ
=
Fresh
lwS
λαου
ϣ
=
Care
lmy
λιμι
= Cry
lm/ lym/ lmA
λιμι
=
Fish
1wl
/
1wla
Ϩ
αλε
ϩ
=
Rob
Hml
Ϩ
αμηλ
=
Armful
HlH
Ϩ
αλε
ϩ
= Guard
xlA
ϣ
ααλ
=
leather
Saly
ϣ
ηηλι =
Angry
Qlf
Καλ
ϥ
= Cunning
twpl
Τωπλ
= Sew
tlv
TωλΤελ
=
Staircase
Dlm
ϫ
ωλμ = Move
This phenomenon does not correspond to a number of words in the Fayoum Coptic dialect, and
this is due to several reasons: -
pg. 16
-
There are a number of words that were not used in Coptic due to their association with
the ancient Egyptian religion, for example [
plvy
= honor], [
hlwt =
feast] and [
tsly
=
Sacred]. Moreover, there are other words specific to the ancient Egyptian civilization
that also disappeared in Coptic, as [
tSly.t =
Red crown].
-
In the case of the word “
DrH
”, which is written here with the letter “L” (
DlH
),
and in
comparison with Coptic, it is clear that the letter “R” was omitted in Coptic and the
word became written
Τ
ϩ
ο
, and this characteristic was used in some words in Coptic
such as the word “
nTr
”, which became “Noυτε” in Coptic.
-
It should be noted that there are some words written with the letter “L” instead of "R",
but in Fayoumic Coptic it was written with the letter “r” (
wsl
, ply,
lms,
HlS, XlA, Xbl,
Xly.t, %kl
).
-
Words not found in Coptic
with the same meaning
,
such as (
Hlly =
delay).
The previous examples show that this phenomenon is used in writing nouns, adjectives, and
verbs as follows:
Noun
Adjective
Verb
Alb
Y
al
Byl/ byly
bly
ply
mlA
lA
lm/ lym / lmA
Hml
Xbl
XlA
Xly.t
qlf
Tlv
tSly.t
wly
wsl
lwv
HlS
xAly / Xaly / Saly/ Sly
tHl
tsly
AlD
mly
lwS
lmy
HlH
Hwl
/
Hwla
Hllj
/
Hljl /
Hrlj
4gl / 4kl
&wpl
Dlm
QALAMOS HERITAGE STUDIES 2/2 JUNE2026
17
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