Why did Sumerian continue to be used in writing after it was no longer spoken?

After Sumerian was replaced as a spoken language by Akkadian around 2000 BCE, it persisted in written form for centuries due to its status as a language of sacred literature and its central role in the educational curriculum of scribal schools.

Sumerian continued to be used in writing for several key reasons:

• Educational Tradition: Sumerian literature became a foundational part of the curriculum in scribal schools. Students studied and copied these texts for generations, ensuring the language remained a vital part of the intellectual and literary tradition long after it ceased to be spoken.1
• Literary and Religious Significance: It remained the language of sacred texts, including hymns, myths, epics, and incantations. These works were preserved through copying, and the language was maintained for its perceived prestige and religious efficacy.213
• Administrative and Legal Use: In the early Post-Sumerian period, written Sumerian continued to be used in legal and administrative documents, often appearing in bilingual texts alongside Babylonian.2

The study of Sumerian persisted in Babylonian schools for centuries, with rulers like Ashurbanipal even boasting of their ability to read the language as late as the 7th century BCE.2