Semitic (Noun)
Meaning
A major branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Semitic languages are a major branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family, with over 500 million native speakers worldwide.
- Arabic is a Semitic language that originated in the 5th century AD and is now the official language of many countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
- The Semitic languages are characterized by a system of consonantal roots and patterns of vowels that convey different meanings.
- Hebrew is a Semitic language that was revived as a spoken language in the late 19th century and is now the official language of Israel.
- The study of Semitic languages has shed light on the history and culture of the ancient civilizations of the Middle East, including the Babylonians and Assyrians.