glottochronology etymology

Etymology

The word "glottochronology" is derived from three Greek roots:

• glōssa (γλῶσσα): "tongue, language"
• chronos (χρόνος): "time"
• -logia (-λογία): "study, science"

Meaning

Glottochronology is the science that studies the rate at which languages change over time. It is based on the assumption that the rate of change in a language's vocabulary is constant and can be used to estimate the amount of time that has passed since two languages diverged from a common ancestor.

Origin

The term "glottochronology" was first coined by the American linguist Morris Swadesh in the 1950s. Swadesh developed a list of 100 basic words that he believed were found in all languages and changed at a constant rate. By comparing the number of these words that were still cognate (similar in form and meaning) in two languages, Swadesh could estimate how long ago the two languages had diverged.

Glottochronology has been a controversial field of study since its inception. Some linguists have argued that the rate of language change is not constant and that it can be influenced by a variety of factors, such as contact with other languages and cultural change. However, despite these criticisms, glottochronology remains a useful tool for estimating the time depth of language families and for reconstructing the history of languages.

glottochronology relate terms

• chronology

  Etymology Chronology is derived from the Greek words chronos χρόνος meaning

• chrono

  Etymology and Meaning The word chrono is derived from the Greek word χρόνος k

• glotto

  Etymology From Late Latin glotta from Ancient Greek γλῶττα glōtta tongue

• gloss

  Etymology From Middle English glose from Old French glose from Medieval Latin gl

• conjure

  Etymology Latin conjuro meaning to swear to bind by oath Proto Indo European root

• microphone

  Etymology The word microphone is derived from two Greek words μικρός mikros

• moot

  Etymology The word moot derives from the Middle English term mōt which originated f

• notorious

  Etymology The word notorious is derived from the Latin phrase nota reus which means

• Mediterranean

  Etymology Mediterranean comes from the Latin phrase mare mediterraneum meaning sea i

• Prussia

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• contempt

  Etymology and Origin Latin contemptus a feeling of disrespect or scorn From the ve

• spoil

  Etymology The word spoil comes from the Old French word spolier which means to rob

• astronomy

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