Language and Linguistics Concepts

The theory that the Proto-Indo-European language spread with the diffusion of agriculture.

• Agricultural theory

• Conquest theory

• Wave theory

• Cultural diffusion theory

Group of languages with a shared but distant origin.

• Language family

• Language group

• Language branch

• Language dialect

Area or place where an idea, innovation, or technology originates.

• Hearth

• Hub

• Nexus

• Cradle

Combination of two or more languages in a simplified structure and vocabulary.

• Creole language

• Pidgin language

• Dialect

• Slang

A language used in everyday interaction among a group of people in a local area.

• Dialect

• Vernacular

• Slang

• Jargon

Merging of cultural landscapes that happens with broad diffusion of landscape traits.

• Divergence

• Convergence

• Dissolution

• Segregation

Language without any native speakers.

• Dead language

• Extinct language

• Revived language

• Artificial language

Process where discrete, new languages are eventually formed from one language. Happens when people speaking two dialects of a language are relatively isolated from each other and have little spatial interaction.

• Language convergence

• Language divergence

• Language extinction

• Language assimilation

A word in one language that shares its origin with a word in another language. It has similar meanings and spellings and show shared origins and connections among languages.

• Cognate

• Synonym

• Antonym

• Homonym

Process where two languages collapse into one language. Happens when people speaking two languages have frequent and consistent spatial interaction with each other.

• Language divergence

• Language shift

• Language convergence

• Language assimilation