South Semitic is a putative branch of the Semitic languages, which form a branch of the larger Afroasiatic language family, found in (North and East) Africa and Western Asia. The grouping is controversial and several alternate classifications supplanting South Semitic have been proposed in recent decades.
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👉 South Semitic in the context of Modern South Arabian languages
The Modern South Arabian languages, also known as Eastern South Semitic languages, are a group of endangered languages spoken by small populations inhabiting the Arabian Peninsula, in Yemen (including Socotra) and Oman. Together with the Ethiosemitic and Sayhadic languages, the Western branch, they form the South Semitic sub-branch of the Afroasiatic language family's Semitic branch.
Mehri and Hobyot are spoken in both Yemen and Oman. Soqotri is only spoken in the Yemeni archipelago of Socotra, and the Harsusi, Bathari, and Shehri languages are only spoken in Oman.
In this Dossier
South Semitic in the context of Q-D-Š
Q-D-Š is a triconsonantal Semitic root meaning "sacred, holy", derived from a concept central to ancient Semitic religion. From a basic verbal meaning "to consecrate, to purify", it could be used as an adjective meaning "holy", or as a substantive referring to a "sanctuary, sacred object, sacred personnel."
The root is reflected as q-d-š (Phoenician 𐤒-𐤃-𐤔, Hebrew ק-ד-ש) in Northwest Semitic and as q-d-s (Arabic: ق-د-س) in Central and South Semitic.In Akkadian texts, the verb conjugated from this root meant to "clean, purify."
South Semitic in the context of Š-L-M
Shin-Lamedh-Mem is a triconsonantal root of many Semitic words (many of which are used as names). The root meaning translates to "whole, safe, intact, unharmed, to go free, without blemish". Its earliest known form is in the name of Shalim, the ancient god of dusk of Ugarit. Derived from this are meanings of "to be safe, secure, at peace", hence "well-being, health" and passively "to be secured, pacified, submitted".
- Central Semitic Š-L-M
- Arabic: س-ل-م, S-L-M
- Maltese: S-L-M
- Imperial Aramaic: ܫ-ܠ-ܡ, Š-L-M
- Canaanite: Š-L-M (cf. Shalem)
- Hebrew: ש-ל-ם, Š-L-M (Paleo-Hebrew 𐤔-𐤋-𐤌; Samaritan Hebrew ࠔ-ࠋ-ࠌ)
- Arabic: س-ل-م, S-L-M
- East Semitic S-L-M
- South Semitic "S-L-M"
- Ge'ez: ሰ-ላ-ም, S-L-M
Arabic salām (سَلاَم), Maltese sliem, Hebrew šālōm (שָׁלוֹם), Ge'ez sälam (ሰላም), Syriac šlama (pronounced Shlama, or Shlomo in the Western Syriac dialect) (ܫܠܡܐ), Mandaic šlama (ࡔࡋࡀࡌࡀ) are cognate Semitic terms for 'peace', deriving from a Proto-Semitic *šalām-.