Difference between revisions of "Family"
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| − | A '''family''' of languages ( | + | A '''family''' of languages (a '''language family''') is a group of languages that developed from a common historical [[ancestor]]. |
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| + | A language '''isolate''' is a family of one, such as [[Basque]] or [[Sumerian]]. | ||
===Comments=== | ===Comments=== | ||
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*[[genus]] | *[[genus]] | ||
| − | ===Origin=== | + | ===Origin of the term=== |
This term was apparently adopted by linguists from biology, where a group of similar plants had been called family since the mid-18th century, if not earlier. The term is deeply entrenched in linguistics since at least the mid-19th century. | This term was apparently adopted by linguists from biology, where a group of similar plants had been called family since the mid-18th century, if not earlier. The term is deeply entrenched in linguistics since at least the mid-19th century. | ||
===See also=== | ===See also=== | ||
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*[[Daughter Language]] | *[[Daughter Language]] | ||
*[[Genealogical Classification]] | *[[Genealogical Classification]] | ||
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*[[Sister Language]] | *[[Sister Language]] | ||
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===Other languages=== | ===Other languages=== | ||
Revision as of 03:54, 5 January 2021
A family of languages (a language family) is a group of languages that developed from a common historical ancestor.
A language isolate is a family of one, such as Basque or Sumerian.
Comments
Some linguists have tried to establish separate terms for larger and smaller groups of languages, or for groups with greater and shallower time-depth. None of these are as universally accepted and used as family. Here are some of them:
Origin of the term
This term was apparently adopted by linguists from biology, where a group of similar plants had been called family since the mid-18th century, if not earlier. The term is deeply entrenched in linguistics since at least the mid-19th century.
See also
Other languages
German Sprachfamilie
