Old South Arabian (OSA) is a group of four closely related extinct Semitic languages:
- Sabaic (Sabaean)
- Qatabanic (Qatabanian)
- Hadramitic (Ḥaḍramawtian)
- Minaic (Minaean)
These languages were spoken in the southernmost part of the Arabian Peninsula. The earliest preserved records belonging to the group are dated to the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE.
OSA were written in the Ancient South Arabian script (also known as: musnad script).
These “tongues” appear to be mutually intelligible. However, they are now classified as distinct Semitic languages.
Modern South Arabian
Modern South Arabian (MSA) (also known as Eastern South Semitic languages) is a group of endangered languages, [Mehri, Hobyot, Soqotri, Harsusi, Bathari, and Shehri], Spoken by small populations inhabiting the the coastal region, along the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Arabian Sea.
The term ‘Modern South Arabian’ can be misleading, since these languages are NOT to be closely connected with Old South Arabian (OSA). The latter can be intelligible to Arabic speakers, while MSA are entirely different Semitic languages.
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