Hi everyone! 👋
\nI’m just starting out in this competition (and in NLP/machine translation in general), and I thought it’d be helpful to have a friendly space for beginners to:
\nAsk basic questions about the data, format, or Akkadian\nShare simple approaches or observations (like common phrases: um-ma, a-na, etc.)\nDiscuss how to build our first baselines without deep learning\nHelp each other understand the historical context (Amarna letters, cuneiform transliteration, etc.)\n💡 I’m not here to share SOTA models—I’m here to learn step by step. If you’re also new, feel free to:
\nPost your first submission strategy\nAsk “Is this normal?” about the data
", "messages": [ { "id": "3378824", "postDate": "12/18/2025 17:00:27", "content": "Hi everyone! 👋
\nI’m just starting out in this competition (and in NLP/machine translation in general), and I thought it’d be helpful to have a friendly space for beginners to:
\nAsk basic questions about the data, format, or Akkadian\nShare simple approaches or observations (like common phrases: um-ma, a-na, etc.)\nDiscuss how to build our first baselines without deep learning\nHelp each other understand the historical context (Amarna letters, cuneiform transliteration, etc.)\n💡 I’m not here to share SOTA models—I’m here to learn step by step. If you’re also new, feel free to:
\nPost your first submission strategy\nAsk “Is this normal?” about the data
", "rawMarkdown": "Hi everyone! 👋\n\nI’m just starting out in this competition (and in NLP/machine translation in general), and I thought it’d be helpful to have a friendly space for beginners to:\n\nAsk basic questions about the data, format, or Akkadian\nShare simple approaches or observations (like common phrases: um-ma, a-na, etc.)\nDiscuss how to build our first baselines without deep learning\nHelp each other understand the historical context (Amarna letters, cuneiform transliteration, etc.)\n💡 I’m not here to share SOTA models—I’m here to learn step by step. If you’re also new, feel free to:\n\nPost your first submission strategy\nAsk “Is this normal?” about the data", "votes": null }, { "id": "3381052", "postDate": "12/23/2025 16:33:48", "content": "Just to follow up here with some supporting materials for the Akkadian language:
\nEnglish-Akkadian Grammars\n1) One of the best Akkadian grammars in English in this one by John Huehnergard:\nGrammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000john\nKey to Grammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000hueh
\n2) A much simpler grammar in English, but effective:\nhttps://archive.org/details/IntroductionToAkkadian
\nLOD Akkadian Lexicon in Wikidata\nSPARQL queries: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/language/?q=Q35518&qLabel=Akkadian
\nOld Assyrian Sign List in Wikidata\nSPARQL query: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/signlist/?q=Q15782728&s=Q401&qLabel=Old-Assyrian%20period
\nOnline PDFs for the Akkadian Dictionary
\nI found a book called \"FIRST STEPS IN ASSYRIAN\" from 1898 (https://archive.org/details/firststepsinassy00kinguoft).
\nQuestion: Is that the same language we are attempting to translate here?
", "rawMarkdown": "I found a book called \"FIRST STEPS IN ASSYRIAN\" from 1898 (https://archive.org/details/firststepsinassy00kinguoft). \n\nQuestion: Is that the same language we are attempting to translate here?", "votes": null }, { "id": "3384023", "postDate": "12/31/2025 10:18:17", "content": "Well they are not the exact same thing you can refer assyrian as one of the regional dialects of akkadian(which we are attempting to translate) \nNot the same but very closely related
", "rawMarkdown": "Well they are not the exact same thing you can refer assyrian as one of the regional dialects of akkadian(which we are attempting to translate) \nNot the same but very closely related", "votes": null }, { "id": "3385127", "postDate": "01/02/2026 15:28:28", "content": "Thanks.
\nAfter reading and googling a lot more, it sounds like the book I mentioned above from 1898 is not ideal because there have been many advances in this field over the last century.
\nHowever, I found a modern book that could be useful as an introduction. It doesn't cover cuneiform, but it discusses transliteration very thoroughly and includes exercises to learn the grammar and vocabulary: \"Teach Yourself Complete Babylonian\"
\nHere is a quote from that book:
\n\n", "rawMarkdown": "Thanks. \n\nAfter reading and googling a lot more, it sounds like the book I mentioned above from 1898 is not ideal because there have been many advances in this field over the last century.\n\nHowever, I found a modern book that could be useful as an introduction. It doesn't cover cuneiform, but it discusses transliteration very thoroughly and includes exercises to learn the grammar and vocabulary: \"Teach Yourself Complete Babylonian\"\n\nHere is a quote from that book:\n\n>Babylonian's closest relative was Assyrian (which was spoken in\nthe north of ancient Iraq). The two are so similar that they are\noften viewed as dialects of a single language, 'Akkadian'. This\nbook will explain the main ways in which Assyrian differs from\nBabylonian, thereby providing a basic knowledge of Assyrian.>", "votes": null }, { "id": "3385178", "postDate": "01/02/2026 17:02:34", "content": "Babylonian's closest relative was Assyrian (which was spoken in\n the north of ancient Iraq). The two are so similar that they are\n often viewed as dialects of a single language, 'Akkadian'. This\n book will explain the main ways in which Assyrian differs from\n Babylonian, thereby providing a basic knowledge of Assyrian.>
\n
Akkadian was first deciphered in the 1850s and you are correct in saying that since 1898 a lot has happened.
\nThis competition runs on a subset of Akkadian sources that were written in the Old Assyrian dialect.
\nAkkadian falls in two major dialectal groupings – Assyrian and Babylonian – each conventionally subdivided into three stages: Old Assyrian/Old Babylonian, Middle Assyrian/Middle Babylonian, and Neo-Assyrian/Neo-Babylonian.
\nThe difference in phonology, grammar and orthography between the stages are pretty significant (like it is with Old, Middle and Modern English) and less so between the dialects (like with US and UK English).
\nA main challenge is one of vocabulary. The same word (lexeme) may occur across different genres and designate specific things within that specific genre.
\nCompare to English, where \"company\" depending on genre leads can mean different things – as in \"she is known by the company she keeps\" versus \"the company went into bankruptcy\".
\nFor this challenge we deal with fiscal and trade data. This informs vocabulary and translation.
\nTake as example the word \"naruqqum\" -- in most Akkadian dialects it simply means \"a sack\" (to keep things in). But in the Old Assyrian dialect it also takes on a secondary meaning by metaphorical extension and comes to designate a particular type of investment partnership.
\nThis is somewhat cognate to English \"company\" as used in the fiscal sense, which comes from Old French \"compañía\" and is derived from Latin, where \"com\" means \"with\" and \"panis\" means \"bread,\" originally referring to \"people who share bread together.\" But one should not translate \"Forbes 500 people who share bread\" or even \"Forbes 500 troupe of dramatic or musical performers\" even though both translations are somewhat theoretically within the limist of possibility. Because of context.
\nSo, I would therefore recommend specifically \"https://www.zaphon.de/Introduction-to-Old-Assyrian/en\" as a source dedicated exclusively to the Old Assyrian dialect. It contains an overview of grammar, signs, and a small, genre-secific lexicon.
", "rawMarkdown": "Akkadian was first deciphered in the 1850s and you are correct in saying that since 1898 a lot has happened. \n\nThis competition runs on a subset of Akkadian sources that were written in the Old Assyrian dialect. \n\nAkkadian falls in two major dialectal groupings – Assyrian and Babylonian – each conventionally subdivided into three stages: Old Assyrian/Old Babylonian, Middle Assyrian/Middle Babylonian, and Neo-Assyrian/Neo-Babylonian. \n\nThe difference in phonology, grammar and orthography between the stages are pretty significant (like it is with Old, Middle and Modern English) and less so between the dialects (like with US and UK English). \n\nA main challenge is one of vocabulary. The same word (lexeme) may occur across different genres and designate specific things within that specific genre. \n\nCompare to English, where \"company\" depending on genre leads can mean different things – as in \"she is known by the company she keeps\" versus \"the company went into bankruptcy\". \n\nFor this challenge we deal with fiscal and trade data. This informs vocabulary and translation. \n\nTake as example the word \"naruqqum\" -- in most Akkadian dialects it simply means \"a sack\" (to keep things in). But in the Old Assyrian dialect it also takes on a secondary meaning by metaphorical extension and comes to designate a particular type of investment partnership. \n\nThis is somewhat cognate to English \"company\" as used in the fiscal sense, which comes from Old French \"compañía\" and is derived from Latin, where \"com\" means \"with\" and \"panis\" means \"bread,\" originally referring to \"people who share bread together.\" But one should not translate \"Forbes 500 people who share bread\" or even \"Forbes 500 troupe of dramatic or musical performers\" even though both translations are somewhat theoretically within the limist of possibility. Because of context.\n\nSo, I would therefore recommend specifically \"https://www.zaphon.de/Introduction-to-Old-Assyrian/en\" as a source dedicated exclusively to the Old Assyrian dialect. It contains an overview of grammar, signs, and a small, genre-secific lexicon.", "votes": null } ], "comments": [ { "id": 3381052, "author_name": "deeppast", "author_url": "", "post_date": "12/23/2025 16:33:48", "content": "Just to follow up here with some supporting materials for the Akkadian language:
\nEnglish-Akkadian Grammars\n1) One of the best Akkadian grammars in English in this one by John Huehnergard:\nGrammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000john\nKey to Grammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000hueh
\n2) A much simpler grammar in English, but effective:\nhttps://archive.org/details/IntroductionToAkkadian
\nLOD Akkadian Lexicon in Wikidata\nSPARQL queries: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/language/?q=Q35518&qLabel=Akkadian
\nOld Assyrian Sign List in Wikidata\nSPARQL query: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/signlist/?q=Q15782728&s=Q401&qLabel=Old-Assyrian%20period
\nOnline PDFs for the Akkadian Dictionary
\nI found a book called \"FIRST STEPS IN ASSYRIAN\" from 1898 (https://archive.org/details/firststepsinassy00kinguoft).
\nQuestion: Is that the same language we are attempting to translate here?
", "votes": null, "replies": [ { "id": 3384023, "author_name": "anshumanpadhy2005", "author_url": "", "post_date": "12/31/2025 10:18:17", "content": "Well they are not the exact same thing you can refer assyrian as one of the regional dialects of akkadian(which we are attempting to translate) \nNot the same but very closely related
", "votes": null, "replies": [ { "id": 3385127, "author_name": "garbo999", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/02/2026 15:28:28", "content": "Thanks.
\nAfter reading and googling a lot more, it sounds like the book I mentioned above from 1898 is not ideal because there have been many advances in this field over the last century.
\nHowever, I found a modern book that could be useful as an introduction. It doesn't cover cuneiform, but it discusses transliteration very thoroughly and includes exercises to learn the grammar and vocabulary: \"Teach Yourself Complete Babylonian\"
\nHere is a quote from that book:
\n\n", "votes": null, "replies": [ { "id": 3385178, "author_name": "cackler", "author_url": "", "post_date": "01/02/2026 17:02:34", "content": "Babylonian's closest relative was Assyrian (which was spoken in\n the north of ancient Iraq). The two are so similar that they are\n often viewed as dialects of a single language, 'Akkadian'. This\n book will explain the main ways in which Assyrian differs from\n Babylonian, thereby providing a basic knowledge of Assyrian.>
\n
Akkadian was first deciphered in the 1850s and you are correct in saying that since 1898 a lot has happened.
\nThis competition runs on a subset of Akkadian sources that were written in the Old Assyrian dialect.
\nAkkadian falls in two major dialectal groupings – Assyrian and Babylonian – each conventionally subdivided into three stages: Old Assyrian/Old Babylonian, Middle Assyrian/Middle Babylonian, and Neo-Assyrian/Neo-Babylonian.
\nThe difference in phonology, grammar and orthography between the stages are pretty significant (like it is with Old, Middle and Modern English) and less so between the dialects (like with US and UK English).
\nA main challenge is one of vocabulary. The same word (lexeme) may occur across different genres and designate specific things within that specific genre.
\nCompare to English, where \"company\" depending on genre leads can mean different things – as in \"she is known by the company she keeps\" versus \"the company went into bankruptcy\".
\nFor this challenge we deal with fiscal and trade data. This informs vocabulary and translation.
\nTake as example the word \"naruqqum\" -- in most Akkadian dialects it simply means \"a sack\" (to keep things in). But in the Old Assyrian dialect it also takes on a secondary meaning by metaphorical extension and comes to designate a particular type of investment partnership.
\nThis is somewhat cognate to English \"company\" as used in the fiscal sense, which comes from Old French \"compañía\" and is derived from Latin, where \"com\" means \"with\" and \"panis\" means \"bread,\" originally referring to \"people who share bread together.\" But one should not translate \"Forbes 500 people who share bread\" or even \"Forbes 500 troupe of dramatic or musical performers\" even though both translations are somewhat theoretically within the limist of possibility. Because of context.
\nSo, I would therefore recommend specifically \"https://www.zaphon.de/Introduction-to-Old-Assyrian/en\" as a source dedicated exclusively to the Old Assyrian dialect. It contains an overview of grammar, signs, and a small, genre-secific lexicon.
", "votes": null, "replies": [] } ] } ] } ] } ] } ], "raw_markdown_by_id": { "3378824": "Hi everyone! 👋\n\nI’m just starting out in this competition (and in NLP/machine translation in general), and I thought it’d be helpful to have a friendly space for beginners to:\n\nAsk basic questions about the data, format, or Akkadian\nShare simple approaches or observations (like common phrases: um-ma, a-na, etc.)\nDiscuss how to build our first baselines without deep learning\nHelp each other understand the historical context (Amarna letters, cuneiform transliteration, etc.)\n💡 I’m not here to share SOTA models—I’m here to learn step by step. If you’re also new, feel free to:\n\nPost your first submission strategy\nAsk “Is this normal?” about the data", "3381052": "Just to follow up here with some supporting materials for the Akkadian language: \n\n**English-Akkadian Grammars**\n1) One of the best Akkadian grammars in English in this one by John Huehnergard:\nGrammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000john\nKey to Grammar: https://archive.org/details/grammarofakkadia0000hueh\n\n2) A much simpler grammar in English, but effective:\nhttps://archive.org/details/IntroductionToAkkadian\n\n**LOD Akkadian Lexicon in Wikidata**\nSPARQL queries: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/language/?q=Q35518&qLabel=Akkadian\n\n**Old Assyrian Sign List in Wikidata**\nSPARQL query: https://situx.github.io/paleordia/signlist/?q=Q15782728&s=Q401&qLabel=Old-Assyrian%20period\n\n**Online PDFs for the Akkadian Dictionary**\n- https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/chicago-assyrian-dictionary\n- https://www.gkr.uni-leipzig.de/altorientalisches-institut/forschung/supplement-to-the-akkadian-dictionaries", "3384018": "I found a book called \"FIRST STEPS IN ASSYRIAN\" from 1898 (https://archive.org/details/firststepsinassy00kinguoft). \n\nQuestion: Is that the same language we are attempting to translate here?", "3384023": "Well they are not the exact same thing you can refer assyrian as one of the regional dialects of akkadian(which we are attempting to translate) \nNot the same but very closely related", "3385127": "Thanks. \n\nAfter reading and googling a lot more, it sounds like the book I mentioned above from 1898 is not ideal because there have been many advances in this field over the last century.\n\nHowever, I found a modern book that could be useful as an introduction. It doesn't cover cuneiform, but it discusses transliteration very thoroughly and includes exercises to learn the grammar and vocabulary: \"Teach Yourself Complete Babylonian\"\n\nHere is a quote from that book:\n\n>Babylonian's closest relative was Assyrian (which was spoken in\nthe north of ancient Iraq). The two are so similar that they are\noften viewed as dialects of a single language, 'Akkadian'. This\nbook will explain the main ways in which Assyrian differs from\nBabylonian, thereby providing a basic knowledge of Assyrian.>", "3385178": "Akkadian was first deciphered in the 1850s and you are correct in saying that since 1898 a lot has happened. \n\nThis competition runs on a subset of Akkadian sources that were written in the Old Assyrian dialect. \n\nAkkadian falls in two major dialectal groupings – Assyrian and Babylonian – each conventionally subdivided into three stages: Old Assyrian/Old Babylonian, Middle Assyrian/Middle Babylonian, and Neo-Assyrian/Neo-Babylonian. \n\nThe difference in phonology, grammar and orthography between the stages are pretty significant (like it is with Old, Middle and Modern English) and less so between the dialects (like with US and UK English). \n\nA main challenge is one of vocabulary. The same word (lexeme) may occur across different genres and designate specific things within that specific genre. \n\nCompare to English, where \"company\" depending on genre leads can mean different things – as in \"she is known by the company she keeps\" versus \"the company went into bankruptcy\". \n\nFor this challenge we deal with fiscal and trade data. This informs vocabulary and translation. \n\nTake as example the word \"naruqqum\" -- in most Akkadian dialects it simply means \"a sack\" (to keep things in). But in the Old Assyrian dialect it also takes on a secondary meaning by metaphorical extension and comes to designate a particular type of investment partnership. \n\nThis is somewhat cognate to English \"company\" as used in the fiscal sense, which comes from Old French \"compañía\" and is derived from Latin, where \"com\" means \"with\" and \"panis\" means \"bread,\" originally referring to \"people who share bread together.\" But one should not translate \"Forbes 500 people who share bread\" or even \"Forbes 500 troupe of dramatic or musical performers\" even though both translations are somewhat theoretically within the limist of possibility. Because of context.\n\nSo, I would therefore recommend specifically \"https://www.zaphon.de/Introduction-to-Old-Assyrian/en\" as a source dedicated exclusively to the Old Assyrian dialect. It contains an overview of grammar, signs, and a small, genre-secific lexicon." }, "source": "meta" }