Introduction
The student wishing to acquire a knowledge
of Coptic, the last stage of the Old Egyptian Language, has had perforce
to consult the Grammars of Stern, Steindorff, Mallon, Till and Chane, none
of which are available in an English translation, and all of which are
difficult to procure. The last Coptic Grammar of importance printed
in English was the second edition of Dr Tattern's Grammar, published as
long ago as 1863. Since that time our knowledge of the language
has been greatly increased by the work of two generations of Coptic scholars. On the other hand, there now exists in English the magnificent
Coptic Dictionary
compiled by the late Dr W.E. Crum. It is with some trepidation that I have
ventured to write a new Grammar. The need for a work in English is pressing, but
it must not be thought that this attempt to supply the need is in the nature of
an exhaustive study. Such an attempt cannot yet be undertaken until a thorough
systematic and statistical examination of the writings of
Shenoute, the sole
outstanding native writer of Coptic, has been made....
The Sahidic
dialect has been chosen, not because of any theory about its age, but for the
very practical reason that it is the dialect which holds pride of place in
Crum's dictionary. In addition to this fact, there exists a variety of texts in
this dialect for the student to read. The examples, all of which are actual
quotations from texts, have been drawn for the most part from the Bible. G. Zoega’s
great Catalogus Codd. Copticorum
&c., 1810 (hereafter Z) has
been utilized to a lesser degree. I have purposely limited myself to quoting a
few examples in full, rather than giving many references to published texts which
few students ever look up. The need for strict economy in space has compelled me
to deal sketchily
with Dr. H.J. Polotsky's great discovery of the function of
the Second Tenses (§186a), but students must not fail to read his study for themselves
(Études de Syntaxe Copte,
Cairo, 1944).... The most pleasant part of my task remains. It
is to express my thanks to those who have made my work possible. First, I
have to thank Prof Jaroslav Cerny, of the University College, London, with whom
I began my Coptic Studies. His kindness and help have been unfailing,
and my debt to him is immeasurable. To Prof S.R.K. Glanville, of Cambridge, I am equally indebted. It was at
his suggestion, and with his encouragement, that I began to compile this
Grammar, and I have had the benefit of his advice at all times. Prof
Battiscombe Gunn discussed several points of grammar with me on two occasions
when I enjoyed his hospitality at Oxford, and I need hardly add that the result
of these discussions has been the improvement of the work generally.
Finally, I have to thank my wife, who not only read through the whole manuscript
and made several valuable suggestions, but also by her thoughtfulness and
management of a very busy household, has made the labour of writing this book
infinitely easier than I had dared to hope.
John Martin Plumley
St Paul's Vicarage
Tottenham, England
17 July 1947
