dead languages
[/ded ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒɪz/]
nounpl: dead languages
línguas mortas
1. Languages that are no longer spoken as a native language by any community, though they may still be studied or used in academic and religious contexts
Latin is one of the most famous dead languages, still studied in schools and universities.
O latim é uma das línguas mortas mais famosas, ainda estudada em escolas e universidades.
2. Languages with no native speakers in current times but which may have historical, religious, or scholarly significance
Ancient Egyptian and Sanskrit are considered dead languages, yet they remain important for understanding historical texts.
O egípcio antigo e o sânscrito são considerados línguas mortas, mas permanecem importantes para entender textos históricos.
Dead languages hold significant cultural importance in both Brazilian and North American education systems, particularly Latin and Ancient Greek, which are studied in humanities programs and classical studies. In Brazil, understanding dead languages is considered part of cultural literacy and is taught in private schools and universities. In the USA, Latin is often studied for its influence on English vocabulary and scientific terminology.
Related Idioms & Phrases
beating a dead language (studying something obsolete)
speak in dead languages (use incomprehensible or archaic speech)
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