Classical language

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 as foundational sources for historical, philosophical, religious, and scientific texts, often enduring long after their everyday spoken use has declined.

Many classical languages are considered extinct or no longer in vernacular use, while some exist in liturgical or literary contexts. Those that are still in use today tend to show diglossic characteristics in areas where they are used, as the difference between spoken and written languages has widened over time.

The term "classical language" may refer more narrowly to only Ancient Greek and Latin, especially in the context of classical studies.