Introduction to Coptic language and its origins

Coptic is the descendant of the ancient Egyptian language, and while it is no longer spoken, it is still used as a liturgical language by Coptic Christians. The name 'Coptic' comes from the Arabic word 'kuḥti', meaning 'Egyptian'. The Coptic word for Coptic itself is 'tementremencat', which means 'the language of the people of Egypt'. Coptic is unique and fascinating as it provides valuable insights into the phonological and morphological aspects of ancient Egyptian that were not fully known due to the limitations of the hieroglyphic script. The Greek alphabet, which Coptic is written in, allows for greater understanding of Egyptian vowels. Additionally, the Arabic influence on Coptic has resulted in certain language features being transferred into modern Egyptian Arabic, such as the position of WH words and the placement of demonstrative adjectives.