West Semitic languages

The West Semitic languages are a proposed major sub-grouping of Semitic languages. The term was first coined in 1883 by Fritz Hommel.^[1][2][3]

West Semitic
Geographic distribution	Middle East
Linguistic classification	Afro-Asiatic Semitic West Semitic
Subdivisions	Central Semitic South Semitic
Language codes
ISO 639-3	–
Glottolog	west2786

The grouping^[4] supported by Semiticists like Robert Hetzron and John Huehnergard divides the Semitic language family into two branches: Eastern and Western.^[5]

The West Semitic languages consist of the clearly defined sub-groups: Modern South Arabian, Old South Arabian, Ethiopic, Arabic (including Maltese), and Northwest Semitic (this including Hebrew, Aramaic, and the extinct Amorite and Ugaritic languages).^[5]

The East Semitic languages, meanwhile, consist of the extinct Eblaite and Akkadian languages.^[6]

Ethiopic and South Arabian show particular common features, and are often grouped together as South Semitic.^[5] The proper classification of Arabic with respect to other Semitic languages is debated.^{[citation needed]} In older classifications, it is grouped with the South Semitic languages.^[7] However, Hetzron and Huehnergard connect it more closely with the Northwest Semitic languages, to form Central Semitic.^[5] Some Semiticists continue to argue for the older classification, based on the distinctive feature of broken plurals. Some linguists also argue that Eteocypriot was a Northwest Semitic language spoken in ancient Cyprus.^{[citation needed]}