Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Iberian language
The Iberian language describes a linguistic group identified with the Iberian civilization (7th century BC - 1st century BC), formed in the eastern and south-eastern regions of the Iberian peninsula. The substratum of the Sardinian language has also been identified as Iberian or close to Iberian. These indigenous languages became extinct by the 1st to 2nd centuries AD, after being gradually replaced by Latin.
Iberian seems to be a language isolate. It is certainly not an Indo-European language. Links with other languages have been put forward, such as with the Basque language, but they have not been demonstrated.
The Iberian scripts appear to be based on Phoenician syllabary. The scripts were shared with the unrelated Celtiberian language.
"Iberian languages" is also sometimes used more generally to mean all languages spoken in Spain and Portugal.
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