Classical language: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:48, 16 November 2024

Revision as of 20:01, 16 November 2024

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{{short description|Old language with established literature or use}}

{{For|classical languages in India|Classical languages of India}}{{Short lead|date=September 2024}}

According to the definition by [[George L. Hart]] of the [[University of California, Berkeley]], a '''classical language''' is any [[language]] with an independent literary tradition and a large body of ancient written [[literature]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hart|first1=George|title=Statement on the status of Tamil as a Classical Language|url=https://southasia.berkeley.edu/statement-status-tamil-classical-language|publisher=Institute for South Asia Studies, UC Berkeley|access-date=18 October 2021}}</ref>

Classical languages are usually [[Extinct language|extinct languages]]. Those that are still in use today tend to show highly diglossic characteristics in areas where they are used, as the difference between spoken and written language has widened over time.