# Semitism (linguistics)

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Aspects of languages influenced by Semitic languages

In [linguistics](/source/Linguistics), a **Semitism** or **Semiticism** is a grammatical, syntactical, lexical, or idiomatic feature in a language that reveals influence from a [Semitic language](/source/Semitic_language) such as [Aramaic](/source/Aramaic), [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) or [Arabic](/source/Arabic). One of the most commonly studied examples is the influence of [Aramaic](/source/Aramaic) on some texts written in [Jewish Koine Greek](/source/Jewish_Koine_Greek).[1]

## Akkadianism

An Akkadianism is a linguistic feature from the [Akkadian language](/source/Akkadian_language), one of the [East Semitic languages](/source/East_Semitic_languages), which was spoken in [ancient Mesopotamia](/source/Ancient_Mesopotamia) from the 3rd millennium BCE until its replacement by Aramaic, which arrived there from modern-day Syria. Akkadianisms appeared in neighboring languages as a result of contact. Akkadianisms have been found in the [Book of Ezekiel](/source/Book_of_Ezekiel).[2]

## Ugaritism

An Ugaritism is a linguistic feature from [Ugaritic](/source/Ugaritic), a [Northwest Semitic language](/source/Northwest_Semitic_language) attested in texts from the ancient city of [Ugarit](/source/Ugarit) (modern-day [Ras Shamra](/source/Ras_Shamra), Syria) during the [Late Bronze Age](/source/Late_Bronze_Age).

## Phoenicianism

A Phoenicianism is a linguistic feature from the [Phoenician language](/source/Phoenician_language), a Northwest Semitic language spoken by the ancient [Phoenicians](/source/Phoenicians) during the [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age).

## Aramaism

Main article: [Aramaism](/source/Aramaism)

Aramaic was a widely used [lingua franca](/source/Lingua_franca) in the [ancient Near East](/source/Ancient_Near_East) from around the 9th century BCE and influenced neighboring languages, especially [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) and [Greek](/source/Greek_language). Many Semitisms in the Greek of the [New Testament](/source/New_Testament) are considered Aramaisms,[3] reflecting the Aramaic-speaking context of the authors.

## Hebraism

Main article: [Hebraism](/source/Hebraism)

Hebraisms have appeared in European languages like Greek and [Latin](/source/Latin) through translations of the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible). Hebraisms also appeared in [Yiddish](/source/Yiddish).

## Arabism

Main article: [Arabism (linguistics)](/source/Arabism_(linguistics))

Arabisms entered languages such as [Persian](/source/Persian_language) and [Swahili](/source/Swahili) following the rise of [Islam](/source/Islam) in the 7th century CE. Arabic loanwords entered European languages as well.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Jonathan T. Pennington Heaven and Earth in the Gospel of Matthew - Page 105 - 2007 "This nuanced difference between a “Semitic enhancement” and a “Semitism” enables us to reconsider whether an apparent linguistic anomaly in Greek (such as plural) is truly a "Semitism" and not merely an "enhancement".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKemp202027_2-0)** [Kemp 2020](#CITEREFKemp2020), p. 27.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEButler2011147_3-0)** [Butler 2011](#CITEREFButler2011), p. 147.

## Sources

- Butler, B. C. (2011) [1951]. [*The Originality of St Matthew*](https://books.google.com/books?id=jSAXv-ffK9wC). Cambridge University Press.

- Kemp, Joel B. (2020). [*Ezekiel, Law, and Judahite Identity*](https://books.google.com/books?id=wC71DwAAQBAJ).

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