The ISLP is a multi-disciplinary international group of ancient-language scholars who meet annually and publish their research in their own peer-reviewed series. The group first met in 2002, and sought to bring together the expertise and experience of lexicographers from various ancient language disciplines and other ancient language specialists in order to reassess Classical Syriac lexicography by critiquing its theory and practice and discussing what kind of Syriac-English lexicon would best serve the needs of the twenty-first century.
Aims of the ISLP
The aim of the ISLP is to further the knowledge of ancient-language lexicography (Syriac, Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek and other languages) by:
- exploring pertinent theoretical and applied issues in research papers;
- inviting and presenting papers for discussion at ISLP sessions at international conferences, e.g., IOSOT, SBL Annual and International Meetings, and Symposium Syriacum;
- publishing these papers and other invited articles as peer-reviewed articles (chapters) in the ISLP series Perspectives on Linguistics and Ancient Languages (PLAL), Gorgias Press;
- publishing peer-reviewed monographs in PLAL;
- laying the foundations for Syriac-English lexica in the twenty-first century and for ancient-language lexicography generally;
- inviting doctoral students to present and publish peer-reviewed articles in PLAL.
The Leadership Team
- Wido van Peursen, Series Co-ditor
- Daniel King, Series Co-editor
- Richard Taylor, Conference Co-ordinator
- Terry Falla, Team Consultant
Membership
The ISLP is essentially a working group for those who are actively involved in ancient-language research and who wish to be involved in the meetings and publications of the ISLP. The expectation of new members is that they would present papers at ISLP meetings over a few years, participate in the annual business meetings, and take a turn at being co-editor of a colloquia volume. If there comes a time when they are no longer able to participate, there is the option of a rest period, after which the member may either become active again, or resign membership.