| North Cushitic | |
|---|---|
| Geographic distribution | Sudan,Eritrea,Egypt |
| Ethnicity | Medjay,Blemmyes,Beja |
| Linguistic classification | Afro-Asiatic
|
| Subdivisions | |
| Language codes | |
| Glottolog | beja1238 |
TheNorth Cushitic languages comprise a branch of theCushitic family within theAfro-Asiatic language phylum. It includes the modern dayBeja language, spoken primarily inSudan,Eritrea, and parts ofEgypt, with several extinct languages such asMedjay andBlemmyan. It is distinguished by unique phonological and lexical features that set it apart from other spokenCushitic languages.[1][2]
The North Cushitic branch is also sometimes called Beja or Bedawi, is a subgroup of theCushitic family of languages. This representation under theAfro-Asiatic language family was repeatedly observed and discussed by linguists.Beja is the only living representative of this branch, spoken primarily inSudan,Eritrea, and parts ofEgypt. Traditionally, extinct languages like Medjay and Blemmyan have been considered to be part of the North Cushitic branch.Ancient Egyptian records make mention of theMedjay andBlemmyes tribes as inhabiting this land.[1]
More specifically, North Cushitic was recognized for the first time by linguists like Moreno and others as a branch in its own right. Only later did Moreno and others recognize it as a separate branch, pointing out its structural differences with otherCushitic subgroups. Although the view thatBeja is a sole surviving representative has been widely accepted, other extinct languages spoken in the area, such asBlemmyan andMedjay, are normally connected with this branch. They established structural, phonological, and lexical features distinguishing it from other Cushitic branches:East,Central, andSouth Cushitic. This view has been corroborated by the comparison ofBeja with cognateCushitic languages.[3][1][2] Studies have also shown that theBeja language only shares 20% of its vocabulary with its closest geographically neighbour Cushitic languages ofSaho andAfar spoken in Eritrea and Ethiopia and whose classification is classified asEast Cushitic and with theAgaw languages of Ethiopia classified asCentral Cushitic.[1]
Beja,Medjay, andBlemmyan are affiliated primarily through historical and linguistic records with North Cushitic. Medjay is named fromancient Egyptian records and represents apastoralist people in theEastern Desert. TheBlemmyes are recorded throughout theRoman andByzantine periods and are believed to have spoken a language closely related toBeja.[1]
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