AMA with Imar Koutchoukali, specialist in Late Antique South Arabia
Hello everyone!
I am Imar Koutchoukali, currently a visiting scholar at the University of Tartu, which is also where, in 2023, I defended my PhD thesis on linguistic change in South Arabia during the late antique period (c. 550 to 850 AD). Basically I looked at happened with the language(s) attested in the South Arabian inscriptions between last stages of the pre-Islamic and early Islamic periods. Although I've semi-retired from academia (for now), I am working on turning my dissertation into a book, which will hopefully be published in the (near) future. In the past I've taught Classical Arabic, Sabaic and Ge'ez.
Please feel free to ask me any questions related to the history of South Arabia during the pre-Islamic period, especially about (but not limited to) its linguistic history, its relation to the rest of Arabia, South Arabia during the rise of Islam more broadly.
I'll be answering questions tomorrow from about 10 AM to about 6 PM (GMT+2). Feel free to post any questions before or after that time, although I can't guarantee that I will get to all questions!
EDIT: It is now 10 25 in the frozen northern wastes. I've just made some coffee and will be answering questions all day!
