East Semitic languages

East Semitic
Geographic
distribution		formerly Mesopotamia
Linguistic classificationAfro-Asiatic
Subdivisions
Language codes
Glottologeast2678
Approximate historical distribution of Semitic languages. East Semitic in green.

The East Semitic languages are one of three divisions of the Semitic languages. The East Semitic group is attested by three distinct languages, Akkadian, Eblaite and possibly Kishite, all of which have been long extinct.[3][2][4][5][6][7] They were influenced by the non-Semitic Sumerian language and adopted cuneiform writing.

East Semitic languages stand apart from other Semitic languages, which are traditionally called West Semitic, in a number of respects. Historically, it is believed that the linguistic situation came about as speakers of East Semitic languages wandered further east, settling in Mesopotamia during the 3rd millennium BC, as attested by Akkadian texts from this period. By the early 2nd millennium BC, East Semitic languages, in particular Akkadian, had come to dominate the region.

  1. ^ Benjamin Read Foster; Karen Polinger Foster (2009). Civilizations of Ancient Iraq. Princeton University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0691137223.
  2. ^ a b Rebecca Hasselbach (2005). Sargonic Akkadian: A Historical and Comparative Study of the Syllabic Texts. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 3. ISBN 9783447051729.
  3. ^ Benjamin Read Foster; Karen Polinger Foster (2009). Civilizations of Ancient Iraq. Princeton University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0691137223.
  4. ^ I. E. S. Edwards; C. J. Gadd; N. G. L. Hammond (1971-10-31). The Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780521077910.
  5. ^ Lauren Ristvet (2014). Ritual, Performance, and Politics in the Ancient Near East. Cambridge University Press. p. 217. ISBN 9781107065215.
  6. ^ Donald P. Hansen; Erica Ehrenberg (2002). Leaving No Stones Unturned: Essays on the Ancient Near East and Egypt in Honor of Donald P. Hansen. Eisenbrauns. p. 133. ISBN 9781575060552.
  7. ^ Lucy Wyatt (2010-01-16). Approaching Chaos: Could an Ancient Archetype Save C21st Civilization?. John Hunt. p. 120. ISBN 9781846942556.