Semitic Languages
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
123 languages
Semitic languages are a family of languages that form part of the larger Afroasiatic (Afro-Asiatic) group. They are spoken in the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa. The family includes Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Tigrinya, Aramaic, and extinct languages such as Akkadian and Phoenician.
The name 'Semitic' was coined in the 18th century and derives from Shem, one of the sons of Noah as recorded in religious texts. The name refers only to a linguistic relationship, not to ethnicity or culture.
Linguistic Features
The most notable feature of Semitic languages is the tri-consonantal root system. Many words are built on three-consonant roots, with vowels and affixes changed to create different meanings. For example, the Arabic root k-t-b relates to writing: kataba (he wrote), kitāb (book), maktab (office or writing space).
Other features include pharyngeal and emphatic consonants such as ʿayn and ḥ, a noun system that distinguishes masculine and feminine, and numbers with special forms. Many Semitic languages have written scripts beginning with consonant-based writing, such as the Arabic and Hebrew scripts.
Divisions
Scholars generally divide the languages into two branches: East Semitic (of which Akkadian, an ancient language spoken in Mesopotamia, is the largest representative) and West Semitic. West Semitic comprises Arabic, the Canaanite group (Hebrew and Phoenician), Aramaic, and the Semitic languages of Ethiopia and Eritrea such as Amharic, Tigrinya, Tigre, and Ge'ez, which is used in religious contexts. There are also Semitic languages spoken in southern Arabia, though they have fewer speakers.
Current Status
Arabic is the most widely spoken Semitic language and is an official language in many countries. Amharic is the working language of the Ethiopian government. Hebrew was revived for daily use in the 19th and 20th centuries after a long period in which it survived only in religious and written contexts. Aramaic is spoken by small communities today, while many other languages have become extinct.