Akkadian language

(Redirected from Assyro-Babylonian)

Akkadian (llišānum akkadītum) or Assyro-Babylonian[7] was a Semitic language, part of the Afro-Asiatic language family, spoken in ancient Iraq.[8] The first-known Semitic language, it used the cuneiform writing system from ancient Sumer.[8][9]

Akkadian
Babylonian or Assyrian
𒀝𒅗𒁺𒌑(𒌝)
Akkadû(m)
P1050578 Louvre Obélisque de Manishtusu détail rwk.JPG
Akkadian language inscription on the obelisk of Manishtushu
RegionMesopotamia
Erac. 2600–500 BC; academic or liturgical use until AD 100[1]
Language family
Dialects
Old Akkadian[2][3]
Assyrian
Babylonian[4]
Writing systemSumero-Akkadian cuneiform
Official status
Official language inInitially Akkad (central Mesopotamia); lingua franca of the Middle East and Egypt in the late Bronze and early Iron Ages.
Language codes
ISO 639-2akk
ISO 639-3akk
Linguist Listakk

History

The earliest known Akkadian inscription was found on a bowl at Ur. It was addressed to a very early pre-Sargonic king of Ur by his queen Gan-saman, who is thought to have been from Akkad. The Akkadian Empire, established by Sargon of Akkad, introduced the Akkadian language, i.e. the "language of Akkad", as a written language. It used Sumerian cuneiform orthography (writing method) for the purpose.[8][9]

During the middle Bronze Age (Old Assyrian and Old Babylonian period), the language displaced Sumerian. Sumerian probably became extinct as a living language by the 18th century BC.[8][9]

Evolution

Akkadian is divided into several varieties based on geography and historical period:[8][9]

  • Old Akkadian, 2500–1950 BC
  • Old Babylonian/Old Assyrian, 1950–1530 BC
  • Middle Babylonian/Middle Assyrian, 1530–1000 BC
  • Neo-Babylonian/Neo-Assyrian, 1000–600 BC
  • Late Babylonian, 600 BC–100 AD

Akkadian Language Media

References

  1. ↑ Neo-Assyrian. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  2. ↑ Akkadian.
  3. ↑ I.J. Gelb. Old Akkadian writing and grammar. uchicago.edu. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  4. ↑ Babylonian dialect | Akkadian dialect | Britannica.
  5. ↑ Shlomo Izre'el. Canaano-Akkadian. tau.ac.il (2007). Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  6. ↑ von Dassow, Eva, "Canaanite in Cuneiform", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 124, no. 4, pp. 641–74, 2004
  7. ↑ Akkadian language. Britannica (November 5, 2024). Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3