# Can computational methods extend the Meroitic lexicon? · Meroitic

> Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV00W036KC/can-computational-methods-extend-the-meroitic-lexicon  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
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Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:06+00:00  

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# Can computational methods extend the Meroitic lexicon?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What language family does Meroitic belong to?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV004J766H/what-language-family-does-meroitic-belong-to)·2 answers·0·0 following

**Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

 

## Where it stands

Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible.

## Why it matters

Word embeddings and alignment with related or contact languages could suggest meanings for unknown words, but they need a machine-readable corpus, which exists only in a small form⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZRT66TY9/towards-ancient-meroitic-decipherment-a-computational)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZS9T0CS5/constructing-word-similarities-in-meroitic-as-an-aid-to).

## Answers 2



[**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/answers/ANS0CVV06027ZAX/none-of-these)

Not tested enough to call either way

Evidence: none yet

Still possible



[**With a machine-readable REM, distributional and cross-lingual methods will propose testable meanings.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/answers/ANS0CVV05GE1APR/with-a-machine-readable-rem-distributional-and-cross-lingual)

Not tested enough to call either way

Evidence: 1 for

Still possible

## History

1. 2025[Otten & Anastasopoulos puts forward: with a machine-readable REM, distributional and cross-lingual methods will propose testable meanings.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZRT66TY9/towards-ancient-meroitic-decipherment-a-computational)
1. 2025[Otten & Anastasopoulos: on 871 texts, embeddings captured some semantic structure; cross-lingual lexicon induction with Late Egyptian…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVTZRT66TY9/towards-ancient-meroitic-decipherment-a-computational)For: With a machine-readable REM, distributional and cross-lingual methods will propose testable meanings.
1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site

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Where it fits

Meroitic

[**What language family does Meroitic belong to?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/meroitic/questions/QST0CVV004J766H/what-language-family-does-meroitic-belong-to)Key question · most likely meroitic is a Northern East Sudanic language (Nilo-Saharan), related to Nubian, Nara, Taman and Nyima

**Can computational methods extend the Meroitic lexicon?** You're here · 2 answers, inconclusive

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