This paper challenges the classification of Geʽez as a “dead language,” arguing instead that it remains vital within Ethiopian society through its ongoing use in liturgy, legal traditions, scholarship, and cultural identity. By tracing the historical evolution of Geʽez from a vernacular language to a sacred and scholarly medium, this study illustrates the broader phenomenon of ancient languages that persist beyond everyday speech. Geʽez serves as a powerful case study of how language can function as a living archive—preserving religious doctrine, ethical frameworks, historical knowledge, and cultural memory across generations.I don't know who the individual was who declared Ge'ez to be a dead language, but this article appears to be related to the current debate in Ethopia over the reintroduction of the teaching of Ge'ez in Ethiopian schools. For some discussion of the issues, see here. Also, Bahir Dar University launched a Ge'ez study program in 2018 at the postgraduate and then undergraduate level, on which more here. The current article summarizes the cultural importance of Ge'ez in Ethiopia. Excerpt:
Geʽez is an ancient African language with roots dating back to the first millennium BCE in what is now southern Eritrea and northern Ethiopia. It has served as a scholarly and liturgical language since at least the sixth century CE and remains in use today within the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches. Thousands of texts in history, theology, philosophy, and literature have been composed in Geʽez, including the earliest known versions of the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jubilees. These texts offer unparalleled insight into the religious, intellectual, and cultural life of the region.Ancient languages are often labeled “dead” because they are no longer used as the vernacular of a community. However, this term can be misleading. Languages such as Geʽez continue to live in profound ways—through institutions, rituals, texts, and scholarly practices. Far from being obsolete, Geʽez remains a vibrant part of Ethiopia’s cultural and intellectual landscape.
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