answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Traditional Jewish Answer

According to Jewish traditional linguistics, there are just three inclusive language branches: those of the descendants of Japheth, Ham and Shem (Genesis ch.10).

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

The simple answer is, yes, it is an Afro-Asiatic language.

However, unlike European languages which are almost all of the same language tree (excepting Basque, Hungarian, Finnish, Estonian, Maltese, and Turkish), Asian languages are from a vast variety of trees so the term "Asian language" is an oversimplification. The Afro-Asiatic Tree, of which Hebrew is a part, is a dominant branch in the Middle East and North Africa (excepting Turkish, Kurdish, and Farsi).

To show that the term "Asian Language" makes little sense, see the following discussion of "Asian Languages": Farsi and most South Asian languages are Indo-European. Burmese and Chinese are of the Sino-Tibetan Tree. Thai is of the Tai-Kadai Tree. Laotian, Vietnamese, and Cambodian are of the Austroasiatic Tree. Tagalog and Bahasa Indones are Austronesian. Korean and Japanese have their own individual trees and Central Asia is predominantly covered by Altaic languages.

If you are asking if Hebrew is an Asian Language or a European Language, it should be noted that the majority of linguists do not believe Modern Hebrew to be an Indo-European Language. Those who do make the assertion that it is usually do so in an attempt to delegitimize the State of Israel and not on a linguistics basis. (If Hebrew is a European language, then Jews belong in Europe as opposed to the Middle East the thought patterns go. However, nobody tells the Iranians who have a proven Indo-European language to go "back to Europe".) Hebrew does use a number of Indo-European loanwords, but the grammar and general vocab are sufficiently Semitic for it to belong to the Afro-Asiatic Tree.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

According to Jewish traditional linguistics, there are just three inclusive language branches: those of the descendants of Japheth, Ham and Shem (Genesis ch.10). The first of those three is the Indo-European. The second includes East Asia, Native Americans, Austronesia, Africa, and others. The third group is the Semitic languages, which include Hebrew, Arabic, Aramaic, and a few others.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is Hebrew an Asian language
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What language is ivreet?

It is Hebrew. Ivreet is the language of Hebrew in Hebrew.


What country worships Hebrew?

Hebrew is not a religion, it's a language. The Hebrew language is spoken in Israel. Hebrew is considered a holy language by the Jewish people.


How do you say apple in Asian?

Asian is NOT a language!!!


What is the Hebrew word for the Hebrew language?

Ivrit (עברית)


How do you write 15 in Asian?

There is no such language or script as Asian.


What is the Asian word for tiger?

There is no single Asian language.


How do you spell kiss in Asian?

Asian isn't a language.


Is Bengali a European language?

No, it is an Asian language.


What is the original language of judaism?

Hebrew.


Is there a Hebrew iPad?

It depends where you buy it. You can buy an English one and change the language on the iPad into Hebrew. To change the language: Settings-->General-->International-->Language-->Hebrew


What country has Hebrew as its major language?

Israel has Hebrew as its chief language. (Arabic, English and Russian are widespread, but Hebrew is the major language.) See also:More about Israel


What is Hebrew famous for?

Hebrew is famous as the language in which The Bible was originally written.