Classical language
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A classical language is any language with an independent literary tradition and a large body of ancient written literature. Typically associated with civilizations of antiquity, these languages serve
Bust of Homer in the British Museum, London
Edward Sapir (1884-1939), linguist, around 1910
Literary language
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Literary language is the register of a language used when writing in a formal, academic, or particularly polite tone; when speaking or writing in such a tone, it can also be known as formal language.
Coronation of Alexander III of Scotland at Scone in 1249. He is greeted by the ollamh rígh, the royal poet, who is addressing him with the proclamation Benach De Re Albanne ("God Bless the King of Scotland"); the poet goes on to recite Alexander's genealogy. Poets of this kind composed in Classical Gaelic, a literary form separate from the Scottish Gaelic or Irish vernaculars.
Samuel Crowther's Yorùbá grammar led to Standard Yoruba becoming a literary language.