Maarten Kossmann
@maartenkossmann.bsky.social
Berber linguistics // linguistique amazighe // ⵜⵎⵓⵙⵏⵉ ⵏ ⵜⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ
Universiteit Leiden
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/maarten-kossmann
Profile picture: RIL 176
Universiteit Leiden
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/maarten-kossmann
Profile picture: RIL 176
Pinned
some incoherent thoughts about Numidian BNS.
in funerary inscriptions in the eastern script (the one we can read), the term BNS appears about 228 times, making it the most frequent word in the corpus.
The literature normally interprets it as BN-S "his/her stone" with the Amazigh 3S suffix -s.
in funerary inscriptions in the eastern script (the one we can read), the term BNS appears about 228 times, making it the most frequent word in the corpus.
The literature normally interprets it as BN-S "his/her stone" with the Amazigh 3S suffix -s.
Some further thought about BNS in Numidian inscriptions
The term is mostly interpreted as “his stone”, but Rössler suggests that “his wife” would be better (unbeknownst to him, it even could make sense etymologically)
Personally, I find this unexpected for a grave stone, but that is irrelevant.
The term is mostly interpreted as “his stone”, but Rössler suggests that “his wife” would be better (unbeknownst to him, it even could make sense etymologically)
Personally, I find this unexpected for a grave stone, but that is irrelevant.
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 28, 2025 at 11:18 AM
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
I would have gone with Türkiye for this headline
Pope Leo marks Thanksgiving with pumpkin pie as he lands in Turkey on first overseas trip | CNN
Pope Leo XIV wished Americans a happy Thanksgiving on board his papal plane and thanked journalists for their work as he traveled to Turkey for his first foreign visit.
www.cnn.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:40 PM
I would have gone with Türkiye for this headline
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Along with the German objects we found in our attic, there was this notebook, a remnant of a Polish settler.
I don't know who Mania, its owner, was, but she must have lived in my house. So we are, in some way, connected.
I don't know who Mania, its owner, was, but she must have lived in my house. So we are, in some way, connected.
November 27, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Along with the German objects we found in our attic, there was this notebook, a remnant of a Polish settler.
I don't know who Mania, its owner, was, but she must have lived in my house. So we are, in some way, connected.
I don't know who Mania, its owner, was, but she must have lived in my house. So we are, in some way, connected.
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
I wrote my PhD thesis on 15th century professors, and i`ll never stop smiling about the countless complaints about academic life in their letters and notebooks. "I`m overcommited" "I should have finished my dissertation before joining my order", "I lost count how many things i`ve written". :D
We always think of monks and canons being all so dutiful. But they were only human, after all.
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I wrote my PhD thesis on 15th century professors, and i`ll never stop smiling about the countless complaints about academic life in their letters and notebooks. "I`m overcommited" "I should have finished my dissertation before joining my order", "I lost count how many things i`ve written". :D
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
Even God Is Worried About ChatGPT
Pope Leo XIV told students not to use artificial intelligence for homework, saying that AI ‘won’t stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation.’
www.vulture.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Handing back student work that’s been written by ChatGPT with a 0 followed by the comment “This essay will never stand in authentic wonder before the Beauty of God’s creation.”
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Who wants to be the new professor for general #linguistics in Cologne? 👀
ifl.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/sites/lingui...
ifl.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/sites/lingui...
ifl.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de
November 26, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Who wants to be the new professor for general #linguistics in Cologne? 👀
ifl.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/sites/lingui...
ifl.phil-fak.uni-koeln.de/sites/lingui...
Important news from NL for @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social
It reminds me of the classic line from “we zijn zo stoont als een garnaal”:
De bakker om de hoek
Doet hasjiesj in zijn koek
Zo zijn we allemaal!
nos.nl/l/2591993
It reminds me of the classic line from “we zijn zo stoont als een garnaal”:
De bakker om de hoek
Doet hasjiesj in zijn koek
Zo zijn we allemaal!
nos.nl/l/2591993
Moeder en dochter belanden in trip door achtergelaten bonbons met cannabis
De bonbons waren achtergelaten door gasten in de B&B van de dochter. Toen zij de chocola vonden, staken ze de chocolade nietsvermoedend in hun mond.
nos.nl
November 26, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Important news from NL for @nathanielbdemiller.bsky.social
It reminds me of the classic line from “we zijn zo stoont als een garnaal”:
De bakker om de hoek
Doet hasjiesj in zijn koek
Zo zijn we allemaal!
nos.nl/l/2591993
It reminds me of the classic line from “we zijn zo stoont als een garnaal”:
De bakker om de hoek
Doet hasjiesj in zijn koek
Zo zijn we allemaal!
nos.nl/l/2591993
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Anyway, long story short, by the time I got home to try to get to the bottom of this I realised it obviously wasn't in Armenian, but it's actually Ottoman Turkish in Armenian letters.
A little bit of Googling later I found out the Ինճիլի Շէրիֆ on the spine = Turkish İncili şerif 'The Holy Bible'.
A little bit of Googling later I found out the Ինճիլի Շէրիֆ on the spine = Turkish İncili şerif 'The Holy Bible'.
November 25, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Anyway, long story short, by the time I got home to try to get to the bottom of this I realised it obviously wasn't in Armenian, but it's actually Ottoman Turkish in Armenian letters.
A little bit of Googling later I found out the Ինճիլի Շէրիֆ on the spine = Turkish İncili şerif 'The Holy Bible'.
A little bit of Googling later I found out the Ինճիլի Շէրիֆ on the spine = Turkish İncili şerif 'The Holy Bible'.
I just saw on the other platform that the famous Turkologist and specialist in language contact, Lars Johanson, has passed away. Sad news…
November 25, 2025 at 7:01 PM
I just saw on the other platform that the famous Turkologist and specialist in language contact, Lars Johanson, has passed away. Sad news…
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
If you don’t know, then who knows in your language?
For Dutch, we say ‘Joost mag het weten’ (Joost may know it), where Makhuwa says ‘Nluku tantsuwela’ (God is the one who knows).
What do you say?
For Dutch, we say ‘Joost mag het weten’ (Joost may know it), where Makhuwa says ‘Nluku tantsuwela’ (God is the one who knows).
What do you say?
November 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
If you don’t know, then who knows in your language?
For Dutch, we say ‘Joost mag het weten’ (Joost may know it), where Makhuwa says ‘Nluku tantsuwela’ (God is the one who knows).
What do you say?
For Dutch, we say ‘Joost mag het weten’ (Joost may know it), where Makhuwa says ‘Nluku tantsuwela’ (God is the one who knows).
What do you say?
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
I guess !
In any case there are other boat engravings in southern Libya.
Like this one in this photo taken by Jean-Loic Quellec in Messak region
In any case there are other boat engravings in southern Libya.
Like this one in this photo taken by Jean-Loic Quellec in Messak region
November 23, 2025 at 11:07 PM
I guess !
In any case there are other boat engravings in southern Libya.
Like this one in this photo taken by Jean-Loic Quellec in Messak region
In any case there are other boat engravings in southern Libya.
Like this one in this photo taken by Jean-Loic Quellec in Messak region
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
The cfp for the 11th International Conference on Bantu languages (#Bantu11) cfp is out! Deadline 1st Dec for submissions to the general session or to one of the 11 workshops, conf. in Ghent/online, 18th-21st August 2026
www.bantugent.ugent.be/bantu11/ #Bantu #linguistics
www.bantugent.ugent.be/bantu11/ #Bantu #linguistics
Bantu 11 Conference – BantUGent – UGent Centre for Bantu Studies
www.bantugent.ugent.be
November 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
The cfp for the 11th International Conference on Bantu languages (#Bantu11) cfp is out! Deadline 1st Dec for submissions to the general session or to one of the 11 workshops, conf. in Ghent/online, 18th-21st August 2026
www.bantugent.ugent.be/bantu11/ #Bantu #linguistics
www.bantugent.ugent.be/bantu11/ #Bantu #linguistics
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
November 21, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Permissible (I can't remember but I think this was in Mleiha, Sharjah)
November 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Permissible (I can't remember but I think this was in Mleiha, Sharjah)
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
obligatory camel photo
November 23, 2025 at 9:41 AM
obligatory camel photo
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
you'd think the forced displacement of 10 million people from one of the oldest centres of civilisation in human history would get a little more news attention than beltway journalists writing essays on how Olivia Nuzzi is a genius because they want to bone her and you'd be wrong
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
People blame the time they live in;
there's nothing wrong with our time but us.
We blame the time, the fault's in us;
if the time could speak to us it'd cuss.
We're wolves dressed as people;
God made us like this, glory be!
Wolves disdain each other's flesh;
we eat each other for all to see.
there's nothing wrong with our time but us.
We blame the time, the fault's in us;
if the time could speak to us it'd cuss.
We're wolves dressed as people;
God made us like this, glory be!
Wolves disdain each other's flesh;
we eat each other for all to see.
November 22, 2025 at 6:33 AM
People blame the time they live in;
there's nothing wrong with our time but us.
We blame the time, the fault's in us;
if the time could speak to us it'd cuss.
We're wolves dressed as people;
God made us like this, glory be!
Wolves disdain each other's flesh;
we eat each other for all to see.
there's nothing wrong with our time but us.
We blame the time, the fault's in us;
if the time could speak to us it'd cuss.
We're wolves dressed as people;
God made us like this, glory be!
Wolves disdain each other's flesh;
we eat each other for all to see.
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
They can’t be stopped. They won’t be stopped. 🐦🐦
Will this threatened frog stop drilling near Denver?
Northern leopard frogs were found near the site of what would be one of state’s largest fossil fuel operations.
Northern leopard frogs were found near the site of what would be one of state’s largest fossil fuel operations.
Will this threatened frog stop drilling near Denver?
Northern leopard frogs were found near the site of what would be one of state’s largest fossil fuel operations.
www.hcn.org
November 20, 2025 at 10:46 AM
They can’t be stopped. They won’t be stopped. 🐦🐦
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Rendered in Tamazight w/ *camel for bear :)
bu-wbašir* g ṭṭobis ifsr-aġ-d almsir, almsir, almsir
[...]
a yaʕrinġ a Ṛbbi
//
han iširran g ṭṭobis da mzzin imndi
[...]
tizlfin n imndi d usngar
Vocab:
fsr: spread
aʕri: good fortune
iširri: kid
mzi: grind
imndi: wheat
tizlft: ear
asngar: sorgo
bu-wbašir* g ṭṭobis ifsr-aġ-d almsir, almsir, almsir
[...]
a yaʕrinġ a Ṛbbi
//
han iširran g ṭṭobis da mzzin imndi
[...]
tizlfin n imndi d usngar
Vocab:
fsr: spread
aʕri: good fortune
iširri: kid
mzi: grind
imndi: wheat
tizlft: ear
asngar: sorgo
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Rendered in Tamazight w/ *camel for bear :)
bu-wbašir* g ṭṭobis ifsr-aġ-d almsir, almsir, almsir
[...]
a yaʕrinġ a Ṛbbi
//
han iširran g ṭṭobis da mzzin imndi
[...]
tizlfin n imndi d usngar
Vocab:
fsr: spread
aʕri: good fortune
iširri: kid
mzi: grind
imndi: wheat
tizlft: ear
asngar: sorgo
bu-wbašir* g ṭṭobis ifsr-aġ-d almsir, almsir, almsir
[...]
a yaʕrinġ a Ṛbbi
//
han iširran g ṭṭobis da mzzin imndi
[...]
tizlfin n imndi d usngar
Vocab:
fsr: spread
aʕri: good fortune
iširri: kid
mzi: grind
imndi: wheat
tizlft: ear
asngar: sorgo
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
We’re hiring! Join the BabelBrain Project @usc.gal @filoloxiausc.bsky.social
1️⃣ PhD1/multilingual practices in Galicia
2️⃣ PhD2/multilingual practices in Gibraltar
3️⃣ Postdoc/experimental fieldwork in Galicia & Gibraltar
📄 Full details: www.usc.gal/gl/investiga...
🗓 Deadline: 26 Nov 2026
1️⃣ PhD1/multilingual practices in Galicia
2️⃣ PhD2/multilingual practices in Gibraltar
3️⃣ Postdoc/experimental fieldwork in Galicia & Gibraltar
📄 Full details: www.usc.gal/gl/investiga...
🗓 Deadline: 26 Nov 2026
Grupo de Gramática del Español
gramatica.usc.es
November 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
We’re hiring! Join the BabelBrain Project @usc.gal @filoloxiausc.bsky.social
1️⃣ PhD1/multilingual practices in Galicia
2️⃣ PhD2/multilingual practices in Gibraltar
3️⃣ Postdoc/experimental fieldwork in Galicia & Gibraltar
📄 Full details: www.usc.gal/gl/investiga...
🗓 Deadline: 26 Nov 2026
1️⃣ PhD1/multilingual practices in Galicia
2️⃣ PhD2/multilingual practices in Gibraltar
3️⃣ Postdoc/experimental fieldwork in Galicia & Gibraltar
📄 Full details: www.usc.gal/gl/investiga...
🗓 Deadline: 26 Nov 2026
this is such a beautiful sentence that it deserves a song. I propose:
You don't see many trilobites from Georgia;
In Georgia they got dinosaurs - no more.
So if you see one, 'ts probably a forger
that forged it and then sold it at his store.
You don't see many trilobites from Georgia;
In Georgia they got dinosaurs - no more.
So if you see one, 'ts probably a forger
that forged it and then sold it at his store.
You don't see many trilobites from Georgia. Very cool!
November 19, 2025 at 1:06 PM
this is such a beautiful sentence that it deserves a song. I propose:
You don't see many trilobites from Georgia;
In Georgia they got dinosaurs - no more.
So if you see one, 'ts probably a forger
that forged it and then sold it at his store.
You don't see many trilobites from Georgia;
In Georgia they got dinosaurs - no more.
So if you see one, 'ts probably a forger
that forged it and then sold it at his store.
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Twee totáál ongerelateerde berichten in de media vandaag 🤷♂️
January 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Twee totáál ongerelateerde berichten in de media vandaag 🤷♂️
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
De Romeinse titel "imperator" gaat terug op een Iberische of Karthaagse titel, maar er is misschien nog een Numidische voorloper, al geloof ik dat ook zelf niet helemaal.
mainzerbeobachter.com/2025/11/19/i...
mainzerbeobachter.com/2025/11/19/i...
Imperator, Mynkd, MNKDH - Mainzer Beobachter
De Romeinse titel "imperator" zou via het Punische Mynkd kunnen teruggaan op het Numdische MNKDH. Maar heel plausibel is het niet.
mainzerbeobachter.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:34 AM
De Romeinse titel "imperator" gaat terug op een Iberische of Karthaagse titel, maar er is misschien nog een Numidische voorloper, al geloof ik dat ook zelf niet helemaal.
mainzerbeobachter.com/2025/11/19/i...
mainzerbeobachter.com/2025/11/19/i...
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Thanks google very useful
November 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Thanks google very useful
Reposted by Maarten Kossmann
Archaeologists have unearthed a Bronze Age metropolis in the heart of the Eurasian steppe: an early form of city as complex as those of contemporary, more traditionally 'urban' civilisations, showing how steppe polities were just as sophisticated.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
November 18, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Archaeologists have unearthed a Bronze Age metropolis in the heart of the Eurasian steppe: an early form of city as complex as those of contemporary, more traditionally 'urban' civilisations, showing how steppe polities were just as sophisticated.
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology
🆓 doi.org/10.15184/aqy...
🏺 #Archaeology