L0.1: Akkadian as a Semitic Language#
Akkadian is the oldest known Semitic language. It belongs to the East Semitic branch together with Eblaite. By contrast, the West Semitic brach has three main subgroups: Central Semitic, South Arabian and Ehtiopian, in which, for example, modern Arabic, Aramaic and Hebrew are located.
Fig. 1 Genetic classification of the Semitic languages. (Hasselbach-Andee hasselbach-andee_classification_2021, 135).#
It is still a matter of debate if Eblaite has to be considered as a language on its own or a dialect of an East Semitic laguage that comprises also Akkadian.