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Module 10: Comparative Linguistics

Comparative Linguistics is a discipline that compares different languages with each other and tries to work out general rules that can be applied to all languages. This is different from language-specific studies such as German Studies, Slavic Studies, or Romance Language Studies. The kinds of principles that are examined in Comparative Linguistics cover the nature of the language faculty and the architecture of grammar, the evolution and history of language families and language areas, and the relationship of languages with social and cultural structures as well as with patterns in cognition and the brain.

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Introduction to Comparative Linguistics

This module about comparative linguistics is divided into three lessons consisting of:

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  1. Comparative Linguistics:

    • An Introduction to the Field​

    • Language Families

  2. Typology

    • Classification Based on Formal Characteristics​

    • Broader Patterns of Language Evolution Across Languages

  3. Writing Systems

    • How Written and Spoken Languages Differ​

    • Inconsistencies of Writing Systems

Lesson 1: Comparative Linguistics

How do languages change over time? Are different languages related to each other and if so, how can we tell? Are there general rules and structures that all or most languages share and what are they? These are some of the questions that Comparative Linguists seek to answer. The kinds of principles that are studied in Comparative Linguistics cover the nature of the language and the architecture of grammar, the evolution and history of language families, and the relationship of languages with social and cultural structures on the one hand, and with patterns in cognition and the brain on the other hand.

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Lesson 2: Typology

Comparative linguistics often involves the examination of language typology, which categorizes languages based on their structural features. In other words, typology is the classification of languages or language components of languages based on shared formal characteristics. This can help linguists understand the broader patterns of language evolution

Lesson 3: Writing Systems

A writing system is a way of visually representing language or verbal communication: a combination of a script and an orthography, as well as surrounding sets of rules regulating the use. Writing systems require a shared understanding between speakers/readers/users of the language to make sense of this visual instead of spoken use of language.

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Final Quiz

Questions:​

1. Give a definition for the term “language family” and name three such families.

2. What is the comparative method? Name an insight that can be gained from that method.

3. What is the difference between diachrony and synchrony?

4. Define language typology; What does language typology look at?

5. Name an example of a typological feature of a language (SVO, relative clause, spectrum from analytic to synchronic language).

6. Explain the difference between analytic and synthetic languages. Name one example each.

7. Why are written and spoken languages so different?

8. Explain the key words orthography, script, and writing system.

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