Comprehensive Translation of Semitic Languages Table into JSON and HTML
Detailed Analysis and Structured Representation of Semitic Languages
Key Takeaways
- Diverse Scripts and Writing Systems: Semitic languages utilize a variety of scripts, ranging from ancient cuneiform to modern alphabets, reflecting their historical and cultural evolution.
- Endangerment Status Varies: While some Semitic languages like Arabic and Hebrew are thriving, others are extinct or critically endangered, highlighting the need for preservation efforts.
- Significant Linguistic Influences: Many Semitic languages have influenced and borrowed from one another and from non-Semitic languages, shaping their development and usage over centuries.
JSON Representation
{
"languages": [
{
"Language": "Proto-Afroasiatic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Reconstructed",
"Branch": "Ancestral Group",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ancient Middle Eastern Communities",
"Key Developments": "Emergence of Proto-Afroasiatic",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Not Applicable (Reconstructed)",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Applicable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influential in Afroasiatic language group development",
"1850": "Reconstructed as a proto-language.",
"1900": "Continued academic study.",
"1950": "Developed as a foundation for modern research.",
"2000": "Hypothesized geographical spread refined.",
"Key Developments 1850": "Reconstructed as a proto-language.",
"Key Developments 1900": "Continued academic study.",
"Key Developments 1950": "Developed as a foundation for modern research.",
"Key Developments 2000": "Hypothesized geographical spread refined."
},
{
"Language": "Proto-Semitic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Reconstructed",
"Branch": "Ancestral Group",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Middle East",
"Key Developments": "Diversification of Semitic Languages",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Not Applicable (Reconstructed)",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Applicable",
"Dialect Variations": "Early dialectical splits leading to East and West Semitic languages",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Basis for future Semitic language families",
"1850": "Defined more clearly academically.",
"1900": "Extensive comparison with Semitic descendants.",
"1950": "Development of phonology theories.",
"2000": "Comparative work in Semitic linguistics.",
"Key Developments 1850": "Defined more clearly academically.",
"Key Developments 1900": "Extensive comparison with Semitic descendants.",
"Key Developments 1950": "Development of phonology theories.",
"Key Developments 2000": "Comparative work in Semitic linguistics."
},
{
"Language": "Akkadian",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "~500,000 speakers",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "~500,000 speakers",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~500,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "~1,000,000 speakers",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "East Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Mesopotamia",
"Key Developments": "Code of Hammurabi (circa 1754 BCE)",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Cuneiform (Sumerian-based)",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "Assyrian, Babylonian",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Borrowed from Sumerian; Influenced Aramaic and Hebrew",
"1850": "Extinct; interest began with Assyriology.",
"1900": "Discovery of Hammurabi's Code.",
"1950": "Major corpus translation campaigns.",
"2000": "Remains central to ancient Mesopotamian studies.",
"Key Developments 1850": "Extinct; interest began with Assyriology.",
"Key Developments 1900": "Discovery of Hammurabi's Code.",
"Key Developments 1950": "Major corpus translation campaigns.",
"Key Developments 2000": "Remains central to ancient Mesopotamian studies."
},
{
"Language": "Eblaite",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "East Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ebla, Syria",
"Key Developments": "Discovery of Eblaite Texts (1970s)",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Cuneiform",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Akkadian",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Ugaritic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ugarit, Syria",
"Key Developments": "Invention of the Ugaritic Alphabet (circa 1400 BCE)",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Cuneiform",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Moabite",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~30,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Moab (modern-day Jordan)",
"Key Developments": "Moabite Stone Inscription",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Cuneiform",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Edomite",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~20,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Edom (modern-day Jordan)",
"Key Developments": "Edomite Inscriptions",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Cuneiform",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Phoenician",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~200,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "~200,000 speakers",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Phoenician Colonies",
"Key Developments": "Spread of the Phoenician Alphabet",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Phoenician Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Spread of the Phoenician Alphabet influenced Greek and Latin scripts",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Punic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Carthage and its Colonies",
"Key Developments": "Punic Wars",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Punic Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced Latin and other Western scripts",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Ancient Hebrew",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers (until 19th century)",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~8,000,000 speakers (2012)",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~9,000,000 speakers (2025)",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Central Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Israel, Jewish Communities",
"Key Developments": "Hebrew Bible, Revival of Hebrew (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)",
"2025": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Hebrew Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Safe / Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Aramaic and other languages",
"1850": "Decline in use as a spoken language",
"1900": "Early revival efforts",
"1950": "Establishment of Israel and revival of Hebrew",
"2000": "Widespread use in Israel",
"Key Developments 1850": "Decline in use as a spoken language",
"Key Developments 1900": "Early revival efforts",
"Key Developments 1950": "Establishment of Israel and revival of Hebrew",
"Key Developments 2000": "Widespread use in Israel"
},
{
"Language": "Aramaic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~1,000,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~3–5,000,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~3–5,000,000 speakers",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Assyria, Syria, Iran",
"Key Developments": "Aramaic as Lingua Franca (Ancient Times)",
"2025": "~3–5,000,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Aramaic Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Definitely Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "Various dialects including Assyrian Neo-Aramaic and Chaldean Neo-Aramaic",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Persian and other languages",
"1850": "Continued use as a liturgical language",
"1900": "Decline in spoken use",
"1950": "Migration and diaspora",
"2000": "Efforts in language preservation",
"Key Developments 1850": "Continued use as a liturgical language",
"Key Developments 1900": "Decline in spoken use",
"Key Developments 1950": "Migration and diaspora",
"Key Developments 2000": "Efforts in language preservation"
},
{
"Language": "Samalian",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~30,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "East Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Central Middle East",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~30,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~30,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Syriac",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~500,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Syria, Turkey, Diasporas",
"Key Developments": "Syriac Christianity",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Syriac Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Western Neo-Aramaic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Iraq, Syria, Iran, Diasporas",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Syriac Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~330,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1850": "~330,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": "~1,500,000 speakers"
},
{
"Language": "Turoyo",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~2,000,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Syria, Lebanon",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Syriac Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "~2,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": "~2,000,000 speakers"
},
{
"Language": "Neo-Mandaic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~15,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Iran, Iraq",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Syriac Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~10,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "~15,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1850": "~10,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": "~15,000 speakers"
},
{
"Language": "Minaean",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~20,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ancient Yemen",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Sabaean Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~20,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~20,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Qatabanian",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~10,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Qataba (modern-day Yemen)",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "South Arabian Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~10,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~10,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Hadramautic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~15,000 speakers",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Hadramaut (modern-day Yemen)",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "South Arabian Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~15,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~15,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Mehri",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Yemen, Oman",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Modern Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Soqotri",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Socotra, Diasporas",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~100,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~100,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Shehri",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Syria, Iraq",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~150,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~150,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Bathari",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Osh, Yemen",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~80,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~80,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Harsusi",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Yemen",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~60,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~60,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Hobyot",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Yemen",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~50,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~50,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Ge'ez",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Liturgical",
"Branch": "South Ethiopic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ethiopian Orthodox Church",
"Key Developments": "Development of the Ge'ez Script",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Ge'ez Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Liturgical",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~20,000 speakers",
"1900": "~100,000 speakers",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~20,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "~100,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Arabic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~300,000,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Central Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Middle East, North Africa",
"Key Developments": "Rise of Classical Arabic with Islam (632 CE)",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "Many (e.g., Egyptian, Levantine, Gulf, Maghrebi)",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Spread globally through Islamic conquests; influenced Persian, Urdu, and others",
"1850": "~10,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "~30,000,000 speakers",
"1950": "",
"2000": "~300,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1850": "~10,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "~30,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": "~300,000,000 speakers"
},
{
"Language": "Pre-Classical Arabic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "Arabian Languages",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Middle East",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~5,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~5,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Classical Arabic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Extinct",
"Branch": "Arabian Languages",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Arab Empires",
"Key Developments": "Quranic Arabic",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Extinct",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~8,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~8,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Modern Standard Arabic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~300,000,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Arabian Languages",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Middle East, North Africa",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "None",
"1850": "~300,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~300,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Maltese",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Central Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Malta",
"Key Developments": "Only Semitic Language Using the Latin Alphabet",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Latin Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Italian, English, and Arabic",
"1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~500,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Hebrew",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "~50,000 speakers (until 19th century)",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~8,000,000 speakers (2012)",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~9,000,000 speakers (2025)",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Central Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Israel, Jewish Communities",
"Key Developments": "Hebrew Bible, Revival of Hebrew (Late 19th - Early 20th Century)",
"2025": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Hebrew Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Safe / Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Aramaic and other languages",
"1850": "Decline in use as a spoken language",
"1900": "Early revival efforts",
"1950": "Establishment of Israel and revival of Hebrew",
"2000": "Widespread use in Israel",
"Key Developments 1850": "Decline in use as a spoken language",
"Key Developments 1900": "Early revival efforts",
"Key Developments 1950": "Establishment of Israel and revival of Hebrew",
"Key Developments 2000": "Widespread use in Israel"
},
{
"Language": "Amharic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~25,000,000 speakers",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Ethiopia",
"Key Developments": "Official Language of Ethiopia",
"2025": "~25,000,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Ge'ez Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Oromo and Tigrinya languages",
"1850": "~25,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~25,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Tigrinya",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Eritrea, Ethiopia",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Ge'ez Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Not Endangered",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Afar and other regional languages",
"1850": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~9,000,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Assyrian Neo-Aramaic",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "West Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Iraq, Syria, Iran, Diasporas",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Syriac Alphabet",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "~1,500,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
},
{
"Language": "Modern South Arabian Languages",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "~350,000 speakers",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "South Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Yemen, Oman",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "~350,000 speakers",
"Script and Writing System": "Arabic Script",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "~200,000 speakers",
"1900": "~300,000 speakers",
"1950": "",
"2000": "~350,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1850": "~200,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1900": "~300,000 speakers",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": "~350,000 speakers"
},
{
"Language": "Surayt/Turoyo",
"Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE)": "",
"Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE)": "",
"Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE)": "",
"Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE)": "",
"Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE)": "",
"Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE)": "",
"Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE)": "",
"Modern Era (1500–2000 CE)": "",
"Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present)": "",
"Status": "Living",
"Branch": "Central Semitic",
"Countries/Peoples/Religions": "Syria, Turkey, Diasporas",
"Key Developments": "",
"2025": "",
"Script and Writing System": "Latin and Syriac Alphabets",
"UNESCO Endangerment Status": "Vulnerable",
"Dialect Variations": "None",
"Influence and Borrowings": "Influenced by Arabic and other regional languages",
"1850": "",
"1900": "",
"1950": "",
"2000": "",
"Key Developments 1850": "",
"Key Developments 1900": "",
"Key Developments 1950": "",
"Key Developments 2000": ""
}
]
}
Table Representation
| Language | Proto-Afroasiatic (before 6000 BCE) | Proto-Semitic (6000–4000 BCE) | Early Ancient Semitic Phase (4000–3000 BCE) | Classical Ancient Semitic Phase (3000–2000 BCE) | Late Ancient Semitic Phase (2000–1000 BCE) | Antiquity (1000 BCE – 500 CE) | Middle Ages (500 CE – 1500 CE) | Modern Era (1500–2000 CE) | Contemporary Era (2000 CE – Present) | Status | Branch | Countries/Peoples/Religions | Key Developments | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proto-Afroasiatic | ~50,000 speakers | Reconstructed | Ancestral Group | Ancient Middle Eastern Communities | Emergence of Proto-Afroasiatic | |||||||||
| Proto-Semitic | ~50,000 speakers | Reconstructed | Ancestral Group | Middle East | Diversification of Semitic Languages | |||||||||
| Akkadian | ~500,000 speakers | ~500,000 speakers | ~500,000 speakers | ~1,000,000 speakers | Extinct | East Semitic | Mesopotamia | Code of Hammurabi (circa 1754 BCE) | ||||||
| Eblaite | ~50,000 speakers | Extinct | East Semitic | Ebla, Syria | Discovery of Eblaite Texts (1970s) | |||||||||
| Ugaritic | ~50,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Ugarit, Syria | Invention of the Ugaritic Alphabet (circa 1400 BCE) | |||||||||
| Moabite | ~30,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Moab (modern-day Jordan) | Moabite Stone Inscription | |||||||||
| Edomite | ~20,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Edom (modern-day Jordan) | Edomite Inscriptions | |||||||||
| Phoenician | ~200,000 speakers | ~200,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Phoenician Colonies | Spread of the Phoenician Alphabet | ||||||||
| Punic | ~100,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Carthage and its Colonies | Punic Wars | |||||||||
| Ancient Hebrew | ~50,000 speakers (until 19th century) | ~8,000,000 speakers (2012) | Living | Central Semitic | Israel, Jewish Communities | Hebrew Bible, Revival of Hebrew (Late 19th - Early 20th Century) | ||||||||
| Aramaic | ~1,000,000 speakers | ~3–5,000,000 speakers | Living | West Semitic | Assyria, Syria, Iran | Aramaic as Lingua Franca (Ancient Times) | ||||||||
| Samalian | ~30,000 speakers | Extinct | East Semitic | Central Middle East | ||||||||||
| Syriac | ~500,000 speakers | Extinct | West Semitic | Syria, Turkey, Diasporas | Syriac Christianity | |||||||||
| Western Neo-Aramaic | ~330,000 speakers | ~1,500,000 speakers | Living | West Semitic | Iraq, Syria, Iran, Diasporas | |||||||||
| Turoyo | ~500,000 speakers | ~2,000,000 speakers | Living | West Semitic | Syria, Lebanon | |||||||||
| Neo-Mandaic | ~10,000 speakers | ~15,000 speakers | Living | West Semitic | Iran, Iraq | |||||||||
| Minaean | ~20,000 speakers | Extinct | South Semitic | Ancient Yemen | ||||||||||
| Qatabanian | ~10,000 speakers | Extinct | South Semitic | Qataba (modern-day Yemen) | ||||||||||
| Hadramautic | ~15,000 speakers | Extinct | South Semitic | Hadramaut (modern-day Yemen) | ||||||||||
| Mehri | ~300,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Yemen, Oman | ||||||||||
| Soqotri | ~100,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Socotra, Diasporas | ||||||||||
| Shehri | ~150,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Syria, Iraq | ||||||||||
| Bathari | ~80,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Osh, Yemen | ||||||||||
| Harsusi | ~60,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Yemen | ||||||||||
| Hobyot | ~50,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Yemen | ||||||||||
| Ge'ez | ~20,000 speakers | ~100,000 speakers | Liturgical | South Ethiopic | Ethiopian Orthodox Church | Development of the Ge'ez Script | ||||||||
| Arabic | ~10,000,000 speakers | ~30,000,000 speakers | ~300,000,000 speakers | Living | Central Semitic | Middle East, North Africa | Rise of Classical Arabic with Islam (632 CE) | |||||||
| Pre-Classical Arabic | ~5,000,000 speakers | Extinct | Arabian Languages | Middle East | ||||||||||
| Classical Arabic | ~8,000,000 speakers | Extinct | Arabian Languages | Arab Empires | Quranic Arabic | |||||||||
| Modern Standard Arabic | ~300,000,000 speakers | Living | Arabian Languages | Middle East, North Africa | ||||||||||
| Maltese | ~500,000 speakers | Living | Central Semitic | Malta | Only Semitic Language Using the Latin Alphabet | |||||||||
| Hebrew | ~5,000,000 speakers (until 19th century) | ~8,000,000 speakers | ~9,000,000 speakers (2025) | Living | Central Semitic | Israel, Jewish Communities | Revival of Hebrew (Late 19th - Early 20th Century) | |||||||
| Amharic | ~25,000,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Ethiopia | Official Language of Ethiopia | |||||||||
| Tigrinya | ~9,000,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Eritrea, Ethiopia | ||||||||||
| Assyrian Neo-Aramaic | ~1,500,000 speakers | Living | West Semitic | Iraq, Syria, Iran, Diasporas | ||||||||||
| Modern South Arabian Languages | ~350,000 speakers | Living | South Semitic | Yemen, Oman | ||||||||||
| Surayt/Turoyo | Living | Central Semitic | Syria, Turkey, Diasporas |
Conclusion
The comprehensive translation of the Semitic languages table into JSON and HTML formats highlights the rich linguistic heritage and dynamic evolution of these languages. From reconstructed proto-languages like Proto-Afroasiatic and Proto-Semitic to living languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Amharic, each language showcases unique scripts, varying levels of endangerment, and diverse dialectical variations. The historical key developments, particularly during significant periods from the 19th to the 21st centuries, underline the resilience and adaptability of these languages in response to cultural, political, and social changes. Preservation efforts remain crucial for those languages classified as vulnerable or extinct, ensuring that the linguistic diversity within the Semitic family is maintained for future generations.
References
Last updated January 16, 2025
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