In linguistics, the comparative method is a technique for studying the development of languages by performing a feature-by-feature comparison of two or more languages with common descent from a shared ancestor, as opposed to the method of internal reconstruction, which analyses the internal development of a single language over time. Ordinarily both methods are used together to reconstruct prehistoric phases of languages, to fill in gaps in the historical record of a language, to discover the development of phonological, morphological, and other linguistic systems, and to confirm or refute hypothesized relationships between languages.
The comparative method was developed over the 19th century. Key contributions were made by the Danish scholars Rasmus Rask and Karl Verner and the German scholar Jacob Grimm. The first linguist to offer reconstructed forms from a proto-language was August Schleicher, in his Compendium der vergleichenden Grammatik der indogermanischen Sprachen, originally published in 1861. Here is Schleicher’s explanation of why he offered reconstructed forms:
Intro to Historical Linguistics: Comparative Method & Language Family Trees (lesson 3 of 4)
Learn the basics of language history and how languages change over time. This lesson introduces the essentials of the comparative method.
We'll use cognates to group related languages into family trees. Related languages trace their linguistic lineage to a common ancestor called the "parent language". Parent languages are either attested (documented) or reconstructed.
Visit the site for more information:
http://www.nativlang.com/linguistics/historical-linguistics-lessons.php
music by Kevin MacLeod
published: 08 Jun 2012
the simplest way to understand comparative method for linguistic reconstruction
published: 29 Sep 2022
Historical Linguistics; Comparative Method & Language Family Trees 3
This short video about "The History of the English Language" is shared here just to ease its accessibility for my students :)
published: 16 May 2013
Comparative Linguistics
Lecture 11: Comparative Linguistics
▶ Visit our website for more details: https://english.mokerma.com/
#linguistics #Comparative_Linguistics #branchesoflinguistics
Comparative Linguistics is the science of comparing and analyzing the similarities and differences in languages. It is an exciting field of study that compares and contrasts language structure, history, and development. This video will explore the scope of comparative linguistics discussing three main theories and their impact on the understanding of language today. You'll better understand how linguistics works and how linguists use a set of criteria to compare and contrast the structure, history, and development of languages. So, if you're interested in learning more about linguistics, be sure to watch this lecture!
We ...
published: 04 Dec 2022
Sound Changes and Comparative Method in Historical Linguistics
Language Change and Historical Linguistics: Crash Course Linguistics #13
Language is constantly changing. Today’s small changes could lead to entirely new dialects or languages in the future. We can’t predict how these changes will occur, but we can better understand the path a language has taken through historical linguistics. In this episode of Crash Course Linguistics, we’ll learn about how and why languages change, what happens when languages come into contact with each other, how linguists piece together the history of a language, and more!
Acknowledgment: Kirby Conrod
Want even more linguistics? Check out the Lingthusiasm podcast, hosted by the writers of Crash Course Linguistics: https://lingthusiasm.com/
***
Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!
Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download here fo...
published: 18 Dec 2020
How Can We Know What Language Used to Look Like? Historical Reconstruction
What did our languages sound like before we had written records? How can we work that out? In this week's episode, we talk about historical reconstruction of languages: what methods we can use to rebuild long-dead systems, what groupings of languages we can put together using these techniques, and if there's a limit to how far back we can go.
This is Topic #56!
This week's tag language: Latin!
Last episode:
Let's Talk about Sets - Set Theory and Adjectives: https://youtu.be/M96aiDk2ePw
Other of our historical linguistics videos:
Let Us Be Franca - Lingua Francas: https://youtu.be/-ut7oCCeh9s
Writing It Down - Writing Systems: https://youtu.be/eTdJp8N8FdU
Sense and Shiftability - Semantic Shift: https://youtu.be/iLKDYqxWY7w
Find us on all the social media worlds:
Tumblr: http://theling...
published: 10 Dec 2015
Comparative Method for linguistic reconstruction
Subject:Linguistics
Paper: Historical and Comparative Linguistics
published: 27 Dec 2017
TYP102 - Language Reconstruction
This E-Lecture discusses the main principles of language reconstruction. Its main topics are: proto-languages, the comparative method, and cognate comparison. Using many examples from the VLC Language Index, the methods of reconstructing former languages receive vivid support.
Learn the basics of language history and how languages change over time. This lesson introduces the essentials of the comparative method.
We'll use cognates to...
Learn the basics of language history and how languages change over time. This lesson introduces the essentials of the comparative method.
We'll use cognates to group related languages into family trees. Related languages trace their linguistic lineage to a common ancestor called the "parent language". Parent languages are either attested (documented) or reconstructed.
Visit the site for more information:
http://www.nativlang.com/linguistics/historical-linguistics-lessons.php
music by Kevin MacLeod
Learn the basics of language history and how languages change over time. This lesson introduces the essentials of the comparative method.
We'll use cognates to group related languages into family trees. Related languages trace their linguistic lineage to a common ancestor called the "parent language". Parent languages are either attested (documented) or reconstructed.
Visit the site for more information:
http://www.nativlang.com/linguistics/historical-linguistics-lessons.php
music by Kevin MacLeod
Language is constantly changing. Today’s small changes could lead to entirely new dialects or languages in the future. We can’t predict how these changes will o...
Language is constantly changing. Today’s small changes could lead to entirely new dialects or languages in the future. We can’t predict how these changes will occur, but we can better understand the path a language has taken through historical linguistics. In this episode of Crash Course Linguistics, we’ll learn about how and why languages change, what happens when languages come into contact with each other, how linguists piece together the history of a language, and more!
Acknowledgment: Kirby Conrod
Want even more linguistics? Check out the Lingthusiasm podcast, hosted by the writers of Crash Course Linguistics: https://lingthusiasm.com/
***
Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!
Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download here for Android Devices: https://bit.ly/2SrDulJ
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourse
Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:
Eric Prestemon, Mark, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Isaac Liu, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Alan Bridgeman, Jennifer Smith, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Brandon Westmoreland, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Eric Koslow, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, William McGraw, Jirat, Brian Thomas Gossett, Ian Dundore, Jason A Saslow, Jessica Wode, Caleb Weeks
__
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourse
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourse
Tumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com
Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourse
CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids
Language is constantly changing. Today’s small changes could lead to entirely new dialects or languages in the future. We can’t predict how these changes will occur, but we can better understand the path a language has taken through historical linguistics. In this episode of Crash Course Linguistics, we’ll learn about how and why languages change, what happens when languages come into contact with each other, how linguists piece together the history of a language, and more!
Acknowledgment: Kirby Conrod
Want even more linguistics? Check out the Lingthusiasm podcast, hosted by the writers of Crash Course Linguistics: https://lingthusiasm.com/
***
Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!
Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download here for Android Devices: https://bit.ly/2SrDulJ
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourse
Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:
Eric Prestemon, Mark, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Isaac Liu, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Alan Bridgeman, Jennifer Smith, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Brandon Westmoreland, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Eric Koslow, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, William McGraw, Jirat, Brian Thomas Gossett, Ian Dundore, Jason A Saslow, Jessica Wode, Caleb Weeks
__
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourse
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourse
Tumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com
Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourse
CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids
What did our languages sound like before we had written records? How can we work that out? In this week's episode, we talk about historical reconstruction of la...
What did our languages sound like before we had written records? How can we work that out? In this week's episode, we talk about historical reconstruction of languages: what methods we can use to rebuild long-dead systems, what groupings of languages we can put together using these techniques, and if there's a limit to how far back we can go.
This is Topic #56!
This week's tag language: Latin!
Last episode:
Let's Talk about Sets - Set Theory and Adjectives: https://youtu.be/M96aiDk2ePw
Other of our historical linguistics videos:
Let Us Be Franca - Lingua Francas: https://youtu.be/-ut7oCCeh9s
Writing It Down - Writing Systems: https://youtu.be/eTdJp8N8FdU
Sense and Shiftability - Semantic Shift: https://youtu.be/iLKDYqxWY7w
Find us on all the social media worlds:
Tumblr: http://thelingspace.tumblr.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheLingSpace
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelingspace/
And at our website, http://www.thelingspace.com/ !
You can also find our store at the website, https://thelingspace.storenvy.com/
Our website also has extra content about this week's topic at http://www.thelingspace.com/episode-56/
We also have forums to discuss this episode, and linguistics more generally.
We're going on hiatus for the rest of the year, but we'll be back on January 6. Looking forward to it! We hope everyone has a great holiday season. ^_^
What did our languages sound like before we had written records? How can we work that out? In this week's episode, we talk about historical reconstruction of languages: what methods we can use to rebuild long-dead systems, what groupings of languages we can put together using these techniques, and if there's a limit to how far back we can go.
This is Topic #56!
This week's tag language: Latin!
Last episode:
Let's Talk about Sets - Set Theory and Adjectives: https://youtu.be/M96aiDk2ePw
Other of our historical linguistics videos:
Let Us Be Franca - Lingua Francas: https://youtu.be/-ut7oCCeh9s
Writing It Down - Writing Systems: https://youtu.be/eTdJp8N8FdU
Sense and Shiftability - Semantic Shift: https://youtu.be/iLKDYqxWY7w
Find us on all the social media worlds:
Tumblr: http://thelingspace.tumblr.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheLingSpace
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelingspace/
And at our website, http://www.thelingspace.com/ !
You can also find our store at the website, https://thelingspace.storenvy.com/
Our website also has extra content about this week's topic at http://www.thelingspace.com/episode-56/
We also have forums to discuss this episode, and linguistics more generally.
We're going on hiatus for the rest of the year, but we'll be back on January 6. Looking forward to it! We hope everyone has a great holiday season. ^_^
This E-Lecture discusses the main principles of language reconstruction. Its main topics are: proto-languages, the comparative method, and cognate comparison. U...
This E-Lecture discusses the main principles of language reconstruction. Its main topics are: proto-languages, the comparative method, and cognate comparison. Using many examples from the VLC Language Index, the methods of reconstructing former languages receive vivid support.
This E-Lecture discusses the main principles of language reconstruction. Its main topics are: proto-languages, the comparative method, and cognate comparison. Using many examples from the VLC Language Index, the methods of reconstructing former languages receive vivid support.
Learn the basics of language history and how languages change over time. This lesson introduces the essentials of the comparative method.
We'll use cognates to group related languages into family trees. Related languages trace their linguistic lineage to a common ancestor called the "parent language". Parent languages are either attested (documented) or reconstructed.
Visit the site for more information:
http://www.nativlang.com/linguistics/historical-linguistics-lessons.php
music by Kevin MacLeod
Language is constantly changing. Today’s small changes could lead to entirely new dialects or languages in the future. We can’t predict how these changes will occur, but we can better understand the path a language has taken through historical linguistics. In this episode of Crash Course Linguistics, we’ll learn about how and why languages change, what happens when languages come into contact with each other, how linguists piece together the history of a language, and more!
Acknowledgment: Kirby Conrod
Want even more linguistics? Check out the Lingthusiasm podcast, hosted by the writers of Crash Course Linguistics: https://lingthusiasm.com/
***
Watch our videos and review your learning with the Crash Course App!
Download here for Apple Devices: https://apple.co/3d4eyZo
Download here for Android Devices: https://bit.ly/2SrDulJ
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourse
Thanks to the following patrons for their generous monthly contributions that help keep Crash Course free for everyone forever:
Eric Prestemon, Mark, DAVID MORTON HUDSON, Perry Joyce, Isaac Liu, Scott Harrison, Mark & Susan Billian, Junrong Eric Zhu, Alan Bridgeman, Jennifer Smith, Matt Curls, Tim Kwist, Jonathan Zbikowski, Jennifer Killen, Sarah & Nathan Catchings, Brandon Westmoreland, team dorsey, Trevin Beattie, Eric Koslow, Indika Siriwardena, Khaled El Shalakany, Shawn Arnold, Siobhán, Ken Penttinen, Nathan Taylor, William McGraw, Jirat, Brian Thomas Gossett, Ian Dundore, Jason A Saslow, Jessica Wode, Caleb Weeks
__
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/YouTubeCrashCourse
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/TheCrashCourse
Tumblr - http://thecrashcourse.tumblr.com
Support Crash Course on Patreon: http://patreon.com/crashcourse
CC Kids: http://www.youtube.com/crashcoursekids
What did our languages sound like before we had written records? How can we work that out? In this week's episode, we talk about historical reconstruction of languages: what methods we can use to rebuild long-dead systems, what groupings of languages we can put together using these techniques, and if there's a limit to how far back we can go.
This is Topic #56!
This week's tag language: Latin!
Last episode:
Let's Talk about Sets - Set Theory and Adjectives: https://youtu.be/M96aiDk2ePw
Other of our historical linguistics videos:
Let Us Be Franca - Lingua Francas: https://youtu.be/-ut7oCCeh9s
Writing It Down - Writing Systems: https://youtu.be/eTdJp8N8FdU
Sense and Shiftability - Semantic Shift: https://youtu.be/iLKDYqxWY7w
Find us on all the social media worlds:
Tumblr: http://thelingspace.tumblr.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheLingSpace
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thelingspace/
And at our website, http://www.thelingspace.com/ !
You can also find our store at the website, https://thelingspace.storenvy.com/
Our website also has extra content about this week's topic at http://www.thelingspace.com/episode-56/
We also have forums to discuss this episode, and linguistics more generally.
We're going on hiatus for the rest of the year, but we'll be back on January 6. Looking forward to it! We hope everyone has a great holiday season. ^_^
This E-Lecture discusses the main principles of language reconstruction. Its main topics are: proto-languages, the comparative method, and cognate comparison. Using many examples from the VLC Language Index, the methods of reconstructing former languages receive vivid support.
In linguistics, the comparative method is a technique for studying the development of languages by performing a feature-by-feature comparison of two or more languages with common descent from a shared ancestor, as opposed to the method of internal reconstruction, which analyses the internal development of a single language over time. Ordinarily both methods are used together to reconstruct prehistoric phases of languages, to fill in gaps in the historical record of a language, to discover the development of phonological, morphological, and other linguistic systems, and to confirm or refute hypothesized relationships between languages.
The comparative method was developed over the 19th century. Key contributions were made by the Danish scholars Rasmus Rask and Karl Verner and the German scholar Jacob Grimm. The first linguist to offer reconstructed forms from a proto-language was August Schleicher, in his Compendium der vergleichenden Grammatik der indogermanischen Sprachen, originally published in 1861. Here is Schleicher’s explanation of why he offered reconstructed forms:
In the comparative method, linguists compare cognates (the same words in different-but-related languages, like mother in English, māter in Latin, and mutter in German) and reconstruct the ways these words were pronounced by ancient speakers.
In the comparative method, linguists compare cognates (the same words in different-but-related languages, like mother in English, māter in Latin, and mutter in German) and reconstruct the ways these words were pronounced by ancient speakers.
Fabrício Ferraz Gerardi from the University of Tübingen's Institute of Linguistics and a team of international researchers have used methods developed in the field of molecular biology to compare and investigate the Tupí-Guaraní languages.
It is the same scientific method — in certain disciplines called anthropology, linguistics and comparative religious studies — that has been employed to examine, starting in the 19th century, what ...