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Proto-Semitic

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

The reconstructed common ancestor of the historically known Semitic languages.

The form *ʾil- in a modern linguistic illustration. The asterisk marks a reconstruction, not an inscribed word or evidence dating a particular cult
The form *ʾil- in a modern linguistic illustration. The asterisk marks a reconstruction, not an inscribed word or evidence dating a particular cultIL Archive · CC BYLicense · Image source

Text

Proto-Semitic is not a language preserved in a surviving book or inscription. Linguists reconstruct aspects of its vocabulary, sounds and grammar by comparing related languages. In historical linguistics, an asterisk before a form marks a reconstruction rather than a directly attested ancient word; reconstruction does not date the origin of a belief. [1] [2]

References and notes

  1. Roger Lass, Historical Linguistics and Language Change, chapter 5: The nature of reconstruction (1997), pp. 215–276 Available chapter summary on correspondences, reconstruction and its limits; the complete chapter was not consulted. Return to the text ↑
  2. University of Chicago, Comparative Semitics Overview of the field and principal languages; not a detailed classification or history of every language. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 10 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «Proto-Semitic», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/proto-semitic