Comparative linguistics

Comparative linguistics is an umbrella term for linguistic disciplines, dedicated to the comparison of individual languages ​​or of different language levels of a particular individual language. The area is often referred to as comparative linguistics and is not to be confused with the comparative literature in the sense of Comparative Literature.

In the comparison of languages ​​is helpful to distinguish between two modes of inquiry. For one, it can be a comparison in diachronic perspective, ie by a comparison of a language in the course of its development over time; on the other hand, a comparison can be performed in a synchronous view, are thus examined a linguistic phenomenon or a voice system at a given time and compared to other phenomena or voice systems.

In essence, the comparative linguistics in general and comparative in comparative-historical subjects is disconnected. The former sub-areas are also considered as subjects of general linguistics, the latter also the Historical linguistics are assigned.

The following linguistic sub-disciplines belong to the comparative linguistics:

  • The historical- comparative linguistics (also diachronic ) was founded in the 19th century and it has been attempted by means of the systematic language comparison to elicit the linguistic levels of description phonology, morphology and syntax of the origin and genetic relationships between individual languages ​​and to identify language families and describe. From their individual disciplines have emerged that deal with certain major language groups, such as the Indo-European Studies ( with Indo-European languages ​​), the Semitic ( with Semitic languages ​​) or the Finno - Ugric ( Uralic with or Finno-Ugric languages).

As a general comparative subjects, the following closely interrelated sub- areas are defined:

  • The Contrastive linguistics ( especially in Eastern Europe also called Confrontational linguistics), which focuses on the systematic comparison of languages ​​on the various linguistic levels of description;
  • The contact linguistics, linguistic phenomena which explores and describes the two languages, or at the contact between the speakers of these languages ​​arise in a contact between (usually );
  • Language typology, which performs the typology of languages ​​based on certain linguistic criteria;
  • The complex typology, which determined, inter alia, language frets.
Genetic relationship (linguistics) Language family Sprachbund
483614
de