South Semitic languages
language family
The South Semitic languages are a branch of Semitic languages. They are mainly spoken in East Africa and Southern Arabia. Linguists do not agree on where South Semitic languages come from. Some say they came from Ethiopia, while others say Southern Arabia.[1] A recent study found that they probably came from Southern Arabia.[2] There are two branches of South Semitic languages.
| South Semitic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution: | Yemen, Oman, Ethiopia, Eritrea |
| Linguistic classification: | Afro-Asiatic
|
| Subdivisions: |
Eastern (Modern South Arabian)
Western (Old South Arabian, Ethiopian Semitic languages
|
References
change- ↑ Bender, L (1997), "Upside Down Afrasian", Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere 50, pp. 19-34
- ↑ Kitchen, Andrew, Christopher Ehret, et al. 2009. "Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of Semitic languages identifies an Early Bronze Age origin of Semitic in the Near East." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 276 no. 1665 (June 22)