Definition & Bedeutung von "Semitic languages"

What are "Semitic languages"?

Semitic languages are a branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family, primarily spoken in the Middle East and parts of North Africa. Major Semitic languages include Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, Tigrinya, and Aramaic. These languages are characterized by a root-based morphology, where words are formed from a set of consonantal roots, often conveying related meanings through various patterns of vowels and affixes. Semitic languages exhibit rich inflectional systems for verbs and nouns, along with a variety of dialects influenced by historical and cultural factors. The study of Semitic languages provides valuable insights into the history, literature, and cultural practices of the peoples who speak them, as well as their role in the development of writing systems and religious texts.