Language Families Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What language family does English belong to and how is it further classified?

English is an Indo-European language and belongs to the West Germanic group.

Which of the following are the largest language families? (Select all that apply)

Austro-Asiatic Family (correct)

Altaic Family (correct)

Indo-European Family (correct)

Sino-Tibetan Family (correct)

Identify the two language families with the most speakers worldwide.

Indo-European and Sino-Tibetan

Identify the 8 branches of the Indo-European language family.

Albanian, Armenian, Balto-Slavic, Celtic, Germanic, Greek, Indo-Iranian, Romance Signup and view all the answers

Describe the geographic distribution of the four largest branches of the Indo-European language family.

Germanic branch: Germany, Austria, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden; Indo-Iranian Branch: India, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh; Romance Branch: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Romania, Moldova, Andorra; Balto-Slavic Branch: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Serbia Signup and view all the answers

Compare and contrast the 'war' theory and 'peace' theory of the origin and diffusion of Indo-European.

War theory suggests that the Kurgan people spread the language through conquest, while peace theory posits that the language proliferated as its speakers became more prosperous and numerous through agriculture. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the origin and diffusion of English.

Pre-English: Celts arrive 2000 BC; Old English (Germanic): AD 450 from Germanic invasions; Middle English: Norman conquest 1066; Modern English: increased literacy and the Great Vowel Shift. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dialect and why are geographers interested in differences in dialects?

A dialect is a regional, class, or ethnic variation of a language, characterized by distinctive vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation. Signup and view all the answers

How is an isogloss constructed?

An isogloss is a word usage boundary constructed by collecting data from people who identify objects in pictures. Signup and view all the answers

What are the differences between British and American English?

Differences include vocabulary (lift/elevator), spelling (colour vs. color), and pronunciation (necessary vs. necessry). Signup and view all the answers

Identify the regional dialects in the United States.

New England, Southeastern, Middle Atlantic Signup and view all the answers

What is a pidgin language?

A pidgin language is a trade language that is not usually spoken as a first language, combining elements from multiple languages. Signup and view all the answers

What are the reasons for the global distribution of English?

English first diffused west from England to North American colonies in the 17th century and has since spread due to US influence. Signup and view all the answers

What is an isolated language and provide an example.

An isolated language is unrelated to any other and has no known language family; Basque is an example. Signup and view all the answers

How may languages become extinct or revived?

Languages may become extinct if they are no longer spoken in daily activities; revival can occur, as in the case of Hebrew. Signup and view all the answers

What are ways of preserving endangered languages?

Political and military strength determines the survival of endangered languages. Signup and view all the answers

Contrast the geographic distribution of French and Spanish speakers in North America.

French is predominantly spoken in Canada, while Spanish is spoken in the U.S. Signup and view all the answers

What is a creolized language and provide an example.

A creolized language results from mixing a colonizing and indigenous language, such as Franglais or Spanglish. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the concept of a multilingual state and provide examples.

Belgium has Flemish and French speakers; Switzerland recognizes four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Signup and view all the answers

How may language diversity produce challenges for a country?

In Nigeria, different groups often battle over language and cultural dominance, leading to conflict. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Language Families and Distribution

English belongs to the Indo-European language family, specifically the West Germanic group.
Largest language families by number of speakers:
- Indo-European: Predominantly in Europe, Americas, and parts of Asia.
- Sino-Tibetan: Primarily in China and neighboring countries.
Other major families include Altaic (Turkey to China), Austro-Asiatic (Southeast Asia), and Niger-Congo (Sub-Saharan Africa).

Indo-European Language Branches

Eight branches of the Indo-European language family:
- Albanian, Armenian, Balto-Slavic, Celtic, Germanic, Greek, Indo-Iranian, Romance.
Geographic distribution of the largest branches:
- Germanic: Central and Northern Europe (Germany, UK, Scandinavia).
- Indo-Iranian: South Asia (India, Iran, Afghanistan).
- Romance: Southwestern Europe (Spain, France, Italy).
- Balto-Slavic: Eastern Europe (Russia, Poland, the Baltic States).

Theories of Indo-European Origin

War theory: Kurgan nomadic warriors spread Indo-European languages through conquest.
Peace theory: Language spread due to agricultural prosperity and population growth among speakers.

Evolution of the English Language

English evolved through distinct phases:
- Pre-English: Arrival of Celts in 2000 B.C.
- Old English: Introduced by Germanic invasions around AD 450.
- Middle English: Influenced by the Norman conquest of 1066.
- Modern English: Increased literacy and the Great Vowel Shift contributed to its development.

Dialects and Language Variation

Dialects represent regional, ethnic, or class variations with distinct vocabulary and pronunciation yet are generally mutually intelligible.
Isoglosses mark boundaries of specific word usage determined through direct data collection from speakers.

Language Differences

Variations between British and American English include:
- Vocabulary (e.g., lift vs. elevator).
- Spelling differences influenced by Noah Webster (e.g., colour vs. color).
- Pronunciation contrasts such as necessary vs. necessry.

Regional Dialects in the U.S.

Prominent regional dialects include New England, Southeastern, and Middle Atlantic.

Pidgin and Creolized Languages

Pidgin languages serve as trade languages and are not typically first languages, combining elements of multiple languages.
Creolized languages arise from mixing indigenous and colonizing languages, exemplified by Franglais and Spanglish.

English's Global Distribution

English initially diffused from England to North America in the 17th century, later spread globally through U.S. influence.

Language Isolation and Extinction

An isolated language, such as Basque, has no known relation to other languages.
Languages can become extinct when they stop being spoken; however, some, like Hebrew, can be revived through cultural efforts.

Endangered Languages and Political Influence

The survival of endangered languages often hinges on political and military strength.

Multilingual States

Belgium: Dutch (Flemish) spoken in the north; French in the south.
Switzerland: Four official languages—German (64%), French (20%), Italian (7%), and Romansh (1%).

Challenges of Language Diversity

In Nigeria, regional linguistic divisions have led to conflict, highlighting the challenges language diversity can present within a nation.

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Description

This quiz focuses on language families, particularly English and its classifications. It explores the geographic distribution of major language families such as Indo-European and Altaic. Test your knowledge about language origins and classifications.

Language Families Flashcards - Chapter 5