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The study of Egyptian language can be divided into six major phases:
Archaic Egyptian language dates back to the period 2600 B.C. It consists of inscriptions that were developed during the early dynastic period and the pre-dynastic period.
Old Egyptian language belongs to the period between 2600 B.C. and 2000 B.C. Pyramid texts were a part of the literature during this phase. This was the language of the first intermediate period and the old kingdom of Egypt. Ideograms and phonograms in plural were the characteristics of the language of this period.
Middle Egyptian period refers to the period between 2000 B.C. and 1300 B.C. The main characteristics of the language of this phase were the introduction of tales, funerary texts, poetic texts, wisdom texts and scientific and medical texts.
Late Egyptian language signifies the period of 1300 B.C. to 700 B.C. This period had a collection of secular and religious literature. Ramesside administration used this language for communication. There is a touch of classicism in the literary and historical writings of this period.
Demotic Egyptian language is different from demotic Greek and is related to the ancient Egyptian script that was developed from the hieratic forms. Demotic Egyptian language is further classified into three stages, early Demotic, middle Demotic and late Demotic.
Coptic was derived from the Egyptian hieratic, demotic scripts and hieroglyphic writings. The Greek alphabets have been modified into Coptic alphabets.
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