Syriac is a dialect of the Aramaic language, historically spoken by the Syriac Christians in the Middle East. It emerged around the 1st century AD and became a significant literary and liturgical language for various Christian communities, particularly in Syria and Mesopotamia. The Syriac script, derived from the Aramaic alphabet, is used to write the language. It has a rich literary tradition, including religious texts, poetry, and philosophy. Today, Syriac is still used in some religious practices and is studied by scholars interested in Christian history and Middle Eastern languages.