Semitic Languages

a group of Asiatic and African languages, the name of which is based on the confusing supposition that the peoples speaking these languages were descended from Shem, the oldest son of Noah. The leading modern languages belonging to the group are the Hebrew and the Arabic. Other related languages are covered by Assyrian, Phoenician, Aramaic, and Ethiopic. The impropriety of the term Semitic lies in the fact that the Phoenicians, including the Canaanites, were not recognized as related to the Hebrews. One who is not versed in the languages is forced to leave the reasons for grouping these tongues to the student of Hebrew and Arabic. All are thought to be descendants of a parent tongue, possibly of Central Asia, but long since extinct and having left no literary fragments. It may be added that having a language in common is no longer considered a positive proof of racial relationship.