Central Semitic languages are one of the three groups of West Semitic languages, alongside Modern South Arabian languages and Ethiopian Semitic languages.
| Central Semitic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Middle East |
| Linguistic classification | Afro-Asiatic
|
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | cent2236 |
Central Semitic can itself be further divided into two groups: Arabic and Northwest Semitic. Northwest Semitic languages largely fall into the Canaanite languages (such as Phoenician and Hebrew) and Aramaic.
Overview
Distinctive features of Central Semitic languages include the following:
- An innovative negation marker *bal, of uncertain origin.
- The generalization of t as the suffix conjugation past tense marker, levelling an earlier alternation between *k in the first person and *t in the second person.
- A new prefix conjugation for the non-past tense, of the form ya-qtulu, replacing the inherited ya-qattal form (they are schematic verbal forms, as if derived from an example triconsonantal root q-t-l).
- Pharyngealization of the emphatic consonants, which were previously articulated as ejective.
Different classification systems disagree on the precise structure of the group. The most common approach divides it into Arabic and Northwest Semitic, while SIL Ethnologue has South Central Semitic (including Arabic and Hebrew) vs. Aramaic.
The main distinction between Arabic and the Northwest Semitic languages is the presence of broken plurals in the former. The majority of Arabic nouns (apart from participles) form plurals in this manner, whereas virtually all nouns in the Northwest Semitic languages form their plurals with a suffix. For example, the Arabic بَيْت bayt ("house") becomes بُيُوت buyūt ("houses"); the Hebrew בַּיִת bayit ("house") becomes בָּתִּים bāttīm ("houses").
References
- Bennett, Patrick R. (1998). Comparative Semitic Linguistics: A Manual. ISBN 9781575060217.
- Huehnergard, John; Pat-El, Na'ama (2013-10-08). The Semitic Languages. ISBN 9781136115882.
- Faber, Alice (1997). "Genetic Subgrouping of the Semitic Languages". In Hetzron, Robert (ed.). The Semitic Languages. London: Routledge. pp. 3–15. ISBN 0-415-05767-1.
- Sabatino Moscati (1980). An Introduction to Comparative Grammar of Semitic Languages Phonology and Morphology. Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 3-447-00689-7.
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Central Semitic languages are one of the three groups of West Semitic languages alongside Modern South Arabian languages and Ethiopian Semitic languages Central SemiticGeographic distributionMiddle EastLinguistic classificationAfro AsiaticSemiticWest SemiticCentral SemiticSubdivisionsNorthwest Semitic Arabic including Maltese Sayhadic Dadanitic Thamudic Language codesISO 639 3 Glottologcent2236 Central Semitic can itself be further divided into two groups Arabic and Northwest Semitic Northwest Semitic languages largely fall into the Canaanite languages such as Phoenician and Hebrew and Aramaic OverviewDistinctive features of Central Semitic languages include the following An innovative negation marker bal of uncertain origin The generalization of t as the suffix conjugation past tense marker levelling an earlier alternation between k in the first person and t in the second person A new prefix conjugation for the non past tense of the form ya qtulu replacing the inherited ya qattal form they are schematic verbal forms as if derived from an example triconsonantal root q t l Pharyngealization of the emphatic consonants which were previously articulated as ejective Different classification systems disagree on the precise structure of the group The most common approach divides it into Arabic and Northwest Semitic while SIL Ethnologue has South Central Semitic including Arabic and Hebrew vs Aramaic The main distinction between Arabic and the Northwest Semitic languages is the presence of broken plurals in the former The majority of Arabic nouns apart from participles form plurals in this manner whereas virtually all nouns in the Northwest Semitic languages form their plurals with a suffix For example the Arabic ب ي ت bayt house becomes ب ي وت buyut houses the Hebrew ב י ת bayit house becomes ב ת ים battim houses ReferencesBennett Patrick R 1998 Comparative Semitic Linguistics A Manual ISBN 9781575060217 Huehnergard John Pat El Na ama 2013 10 08 The Semitic Languages ISBN 9781136115882 Faber Alice 1997 Genetic Subgrouping of the Semitic Languages In Hetzron Robert ed The Semitic Languages London Routledge pp 3 15 ISBN 0 415 05767 1 Sabatino Moscati 1980 An Introduction to Comparative Grammar of Semitic Languages Phonology and Morphology Harrassowitz Verlag ISBN 3 447 00689 7 This Semitic languages related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
