A language family is a group of languages that have evolved from a common ancestral language, known as a proto-language. Understanding language families helps linguists trace the historical relationships between languages and the processes of linguistic change over time.

Language Family

language family

common ancestral language

A proto-language is a hypothetical, reconstructed ancestral language from which a group of related languages is derived, often formulated using the comparative method. It provides insight into the linguistic features and vocabulary of ancient languages that have left no direct records, helping linguists understand language evolution and historical relationships.

proto-language

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