How did the Akkadian Empire affect the use of the Sumerian language?

The rise of the Akkadian Empire, established by Sargon of Akkad, marked a significant turning point for the Sumerian language. As the Akkadians achieved political hegemony over Babylonia, their Semitic language gained extensive use throughout the empire, which resulted in a definite setback for the progress of Sumerian.1

During this period, the use of Sumerian was gradually restricted to a smaller area within Sumer proper. Furthermore, the Akkadian language acquired a new literary prestige, effectively becoming the equal of Sumerian in status. While Sumerian continued to be used for administrative and legal purposes, the political unification under the Akkadian dynasty shifted the cultural and linguistic landscape, favoring the ascendancy of Semitic elements in the region. This era initiated a long-term decline in the use of Sumerian as a spoken language, though it remained a vital written language for centuries to come.123