80 ms·

Great source of Akkadian.

• nivertech 4y ago
  Interestingly, the letters to Canaan are written in a mixed Canaano-Akkadian language[1], not in a Canaanite/Hebrew. It is a mixed language with predominantly Akkadian vocabulary and Canaanite grammatical features. It used the cuneiform writing system of the Akkadian language. To the north in Ebla city-state there was another East Semitic language - Eblaite [2]. My speculation would be that Canaan's elite was either Akkadian, or at least they were educated/influenced from there. This is also aligned with the Biblical stories that mythical Abraham come to Canaan from Mesopotamia/Sumer. -- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaano-Akkadian_language https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaano-Akkadian_language [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eblaite_language https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eblaite_language
  • josh_fyi 4y ago
    They were not Akkadian. Akkadian was the international language of diplomacy in that area, as English is today, or French was a century ago. "Canaan's elite was either Akkadian" -- the writing was done by scribes, who were a kind of elite, but the kings did not write these themselves. The language is Akkadian, with heavy influence from the Canaanite of the authors.
    • nivertech 4y ago
      > "Canaan's elite was either Akkadian" -- the writing was done by scribes, who were a kind of elite, but the kings did not write these themselves. you cut out the rest of the sentence, and then just rephrased it ;) "or at least they were educated/influenced from there"