Hamitic Language (Noun)
Meaning
A group of languages in northern Africa related to Semitic.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Hamitic language family is a group of languages spoken in northern Africa, including Berber and Hausa, which are not part of the Semitic language family but are often associated with it.
- Scholars have long debated whether the Hamitic language is a distinct language family or a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
- Although a Hamitic language, the Berber language has been heavily influenced by Arabic and French, reflecting the cultural and historical ties of North Africa to the Mediterranean region.
- In linguistic terms, a Hamitic language such as Tuareg is one that is part of the Berber language branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
- Some linguists argue that the concept of a Hamitic language is outdated and that the term should be replaced with the more specific designation of Berber or Afro-Asiatic language family.