Semitic languages

The Semitic languages are a family of languages spoken by more than 250 million people across much of the Middle East, where they originated, and North and East Africa. They constitute the northeastern subfamily of the Afro-Asiatic languages, and the only family of this group spoken in Asia.

Classification

The classification given below is probably the most widespread - following Robert Hetzron - but is still disputed; in particular, several Semitists still argue for the traditional view of Arabic as part of South Semitic, and a few (e.g. Alexander Militarev) see the South Arabian languages as a third branch of Semitic alongside East and West Semitic, rather than as a subgroup of South Semitic.

Related Topics:
Robert Hetzron - Alexander Militarev

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The Eastern Semitic Languages

• Akkadian language -- extinct

Controversial (either East Semitic or Northwest Semitic): Eblaite language -- extinct

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The Central Semitic languages

Northwest Semitic languages

• Canaanite languages (see also Hebrew languages)
• Ammonite language -- extinct
• Moabite language -- extinct
• Edomite language -- extinct
• Biblical Hebrew language -- live descendants
• Phoenician languages (including the later Punic) -- extinct
• Aramaic language
• Syriac language
• Mandaic language
• Ugaritic language -- extinct
• Amorite language -- extinct (attested only from proper names transcribed in Akkadian; may effectively be the parent language of Northwest Semitic, or even pre-date the split of Central Semitic.)

South Central (Arabic) languages

• Arabic language
• See also Varieties of Arabic
• Maltese language

The South Semitic languages

Western (within South Semitic)

• Ethiopic languages
• North
• Tigrinya language
• Tigre language
• Ge'ez language
• South
• Transverse
• Amharic language
• Argobba language
• Gafat language -- extinct
• Harari language
• East Gurage languages
• Selti language
• Wolane language
• Zway language
• Ulbare language
• Inneqor language
• Outer
• Soddo language
• Goggot language
• Muher language
• West Gurage languages
• Masqan language
• Ezha language
• Gura language
• Gyeto language
• Ennemor language
• Endegen language
• Old South Arabian -- extinct
• Sabaean language -- extinct
• Minaean language -- extinct
• Qatabanian language -- extinct
• Hadhramautic languages -- extinct

Eastern (within South Semitic)

• Soqotri language
• Mehri language
• Jibbali language
• Harsusi language
• Bathari language
• Hobyot language