Meaning of Semitic
eri...@worldnet.att.net
there is never an explanation or definition of what it means. Is there a non-biblical origin of the term?
Are Semitic peoples supposed to have a common origin? What language(s) did they speak?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
eri...@worldnet.att.net
Jerry Harder
<eri...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
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The word Semitic comes from the biblical Shem, one of Noah's sons.
Modern opinion, including mine, is that speaking a common language or a
related language has little or nothing to do with genetic relatedness. This
means there is probably not common genetic origin for the Semitic speaking
peoples. In fact, a significant number of contemporary Ethiopians speak one
of several Semitic languages.
The Semitic languages include Hebrew, Arabic, Maltese. Semitic languages in
Ethiopia and surrounding areas include Amharic, Tigrinya, Tigre, Gurage,
and Harari. Geez is a quasi-dead language in whcih the Ethiopians recorded
much of their theology and history. Dead languages include Aramaic,
Assyrian, and syriac, although the latter is used in certain Eastern
Christian rituals.
Semitic languages are one branch, according to may linguists of a larger
Afro- Asiatic family.
Related languages include ancient Egyptian, including Coptic, used in
contemporary Coptic religious rites, the Berber Family, spoken in North
Africa and the Sahara, Cushitic spoken in Somalia and some parts of Kenya,
and Chadic with a singe member, Hausa, which is spoken in Northern Nigeria.
--
Jerry Harder
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Steve Schaper
In the Bible, they are decended from Noah's son Shem. Although
presumably with intermarriage everyone is related to everyone, and all
three of Noah's sons.