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are probably the Christians you're thinking of. (Assyrian being a dialect of Aramaic) From the link above: ASSYRIAN NEO-ARAMAIC 30,000 in Iraq (1994) out of up to a reported 2,000,000 ethnic population. Population total all countries 210,000 or more speakers. 4,250,000 reported ethnic population. Alternate names: LISHANA ATURAYA, SURET, SURETH, SURYAYA SWADAYA, ASSYRIAN, NEO-SYRIAC, ASSYRISKI, AISORSKI, ASSYRIANCI. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern.
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CHALDEAN NEO-ARAMAIC 100,000 to 120,000 in Iraq (1994). Population total all countries 200,000 (1994 H. Mutzafi). Alternate names: CHALDEAN, KILDANI, KALDAYA, NEO-CHALDEAN, MODERN CHALDEAN, SURETH, LISHANA KALDAYA, FELLIHI, FALLANI. Dialects: MANGESH, ALQOSH, TEL KEPE, TISQOPA, BARTILLE, SHIRNAK-CHIZRE (BOHTAN), ARADHIN, DIHOK. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, Aramaic, Eastern, Central, Northeastern.
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