 | This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (September 2024) |
According to the definition by George L. Hart, a classical language is any language with an independent literary tradition and a large body of ancient written literature.[1]
Classical languages are usually extinct languages. Those that are still in use today tend to show highly diglossic characteristics in areas where they are used, as the difference between spoken and written language has widened over time.
- ^ Hart, George. "Statement on the status of Tamil as a Classical Language". Institute for South Asia Studies, UC Berkeley. Retrieved 18 October 2021.