less than 1 minute read

Semitic languages



Semitic languages, group of the Hamito-Semitic language family found in the Near East and North Africa. Most of the group is now extinct; extant members include Hebrew, Arabic and Maltese. A few were written in cuneiform, but most used alphabets. Most of the letters of the Latin alphabet have descended from the North Semitic alphabet, the first fully formed alphabetical writing system.



Additional topics

21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia - Sato, Eisaku to Serra, Junípero