Akkadian
Alternative name(s): Assyro-Babylonian
Language family: Afro-Asian
Language Group: Semitic
Geographical use: Mesopotamia (see also below)
Information: Akkadian is an extinct language.
It comes from the old region of Akkad and was spoken between the 3rd and
1st century BC. During the Akkadian dynasty and the rule of Sargon (2334
till 2279 BC) the Akkadian language spread from the Mediterranean See
to the Persian Gulf. By 2000 BC it had fully pushed off the Sumerian language.
Akkadian split into two dialects: Assyrian and Babylonian. This is why
the language is sometimes called Assyro-Babylonian.
Akkadian is written with the cuneiform script
which consisted of about 600 word and syllable signs. The sound system
consisted of 20 consonants and 8 vowels. Akkadian had three cases (nominative,
accusative and genitive) and knew two genders.
