Thracian language

The Thracian language is an extinct and <a href="/facts/Attested_language/Q8w1JHNl">poorly attested</a> language, spoken in ancient times in <a href="/facts/Southeast_Europe/zxgEvCdQ">Southeast Europe</a> by the <a href="/facts/Thracians/JrSuD03j">Thracians</a>. The linguistic affinities of the Thracian language are <a href="/facts/Classification_of_Thracian/hTefsLIB">poorly understood</a>, but it is generally agreed that it was an <a href="/facts/Indo-European_languages/L34TfgSr">Indo-European</a> language.
The point at which Thracian became extinct is a matter of dispute. However, it is generally accepted that Thracian was still in use in the 6th century AD: <a href="/facts/Antoninus_of_Piacenza_(pilgrim)/Is7RGxwG">Antoninus of Piacenza</a> wrote in 570 that there was a monastery in the <a href="/facts/Sinai_Peninsula/SEyERdHm">Sinai</a>, at which the monks spoke <a href="/facts/Koine_Greek/StKuT1sY">Greek</a>, <a href="/facts/Latin/pM3Kge85">Latin</a>, <a href="/facts/Syriac_language/mLhEtdSW">Syriac</a>, <a href="/facts/Coptic_language/EzDloWDH">Egyptian</a>, and <a href="/facts/Bessian/XuDMofY3">Bessian</a> – a Thracian dialect.
A classification put forward by Harvey Mayer, suggests that Thracian (and <a href="/facts/Dacian_language/vaShLLqH">Dacian</a>) belonged to the <a href="/facts/Baltic_languages/Jmj2ckcI">Baltic</a> branch of Indo-European, or at least is closer to Baltic than any other Indo-European branch. However, this theory has not achieved the status of a general consensus among linguists. These are among many competing hypotheses regarding the classification and fate of Thracian.

Thracian language open-in-new

Thracian language