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Explain the difference between a language branch, language family, and language group.
Explain the difference between a language branch, language family, and language group.
Branch: languages grouped together by a common ancestor, not as old as language families; Family: a group of languages with a common ancestor long before recorded history; Group: a collection of languages within a branch that share a similar origin.
Explain the difference between a dialect and an accent.
Explain the difference between a dialect and an accent.
Accent: a way of pronouncing words (usually indicates place of origin, or social background); Dialect: a regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
What is an isogloss?
What is an isogloss?
A boundary separating regions with a predominately different language.
Define: Lingua Franca.
Define: Lingua Franca.
Describe major language families in Europe, the Americas, East Asia, SW Asia, and Africa.
Describe major language families in Europe, the Americas, East Asia, SW Asia, and Africa.
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Study Notes
Language Classification
- Language Branch: A set of languages sharing a common ancestor, relatively modern compared to language families.
- Language Family: A broader classification of languages that share a common ancestral language from ancient history.
- Language Group: A specific collection of languages within a branch that has similar origins and characteristics.
Dialects and Accents
- Accent: Refers to variations in pronunciation that can indicate regional origin or social background of speakers.
- Dialect: A distinct form of a language characterized by unique vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation that varies regionally.
Isogloss
- Defines a geographical boundary that separates regions where different languages or dialects are predominantly spoken.
Lingua Franca
- Describes a common language that enables communication between people who speak different native languages, often used in trade.
Major Language Families by Region
- Europe: Predominantly features the Indo-European language family.
- Americas: Also largely consists of languages from the Indo-European family.
- East Asia: Mainly includes the Sino-Tibetan language family.
- Southwest Asia: Features Turkish and Indo-Iranian language families.
- Africa: Comprises languages from the Afro-Asiatic and Niger-Congo families.
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