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Which languages are included in the Northwest Semitic group?
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Semitic languages
Distribution of the Semitic languages.
The Northwest Semitic group is a major cluster within the Semitic languages family. Scholars generally categorize this group as comprising the following:
- Canaanite languages: This subgroup includes Hebrew, Phoenician, Punic, and Moabite.1
- Aramaic languages: This group includes various dialects, such as Syriac, Mandaean, and numerous East and West Aramaic varieties.2
- Ugaritic: An ancient language closely related to Phoenician and Hebrew.34
- Amorite: An ancient language included within the Northwest Semitic classification.3
While the classification of Semitic languages remains a subject of academic debate, these groups are widely recognized as the primary components of the Northwest Semitic cluster.3