By Damien Cowl “Suriston” (JPA. סוריסטון), colloquially known in English as Galilean Dialect, formed as a variant of the Western Aramaic languages in the Levant around the time of Roman rule in the region. It was spoken by the people of Galilee in northern Judea, somewhat distinct from the Samaritans or the Jews from Jerusalem. Jesus and his followers spoke in this language, for He grew up and spent most of His life in Galilean towns such as Nazareth and Capernaum. Where it shares a great deal of core vocabulary and grammar with other Aramaic dialects (as all dialects do) there are a large number of quirks and differences that make it unique. The term Galilean dialect generally refers to the form of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic spoken by people in Galilee during the late Second Temple period, for example at the time of Jesus and the disciples, as distinct from a Judean dialect spoken in Jerusalem. Decades after Jesus' death, in the aftermath of the failed Jewish revolts against the...