Proto Indo-European
Most European languages are thought to have evolved from one original highly inflected language referred to as (proto) Indo-European.
In Search of the First Language
A Nova special looking for what would have been the language spoken before the Tower of Babel.
A Nova special looking for what would have been the language spoken before the Tower of Babel.
Indo-European
Brief history of comparative linguistics with an example of sound shifts. Explains language's evolution from inflected to prepositionally based.
Brief history of comparative linguistics with an example of sound shifts. Explains language's evolution from inflected to prepositionally based.
Knowing Words in Indo-European
Table shows a genealogy for two "knowing" roots, which in modern English turn up as "know" and "wit." Also a table of the words for "is" (to be).
Table shows a genealogy for two "knowing" roots, which in modern English turn up as "know" and "wit." Also a table of the words for "is" (to be).
Numbers in Indo-European Languages
Shows conjectures for numbers in the various proto languages of the Indo-European group: Celtic, Balto-Slavic, Italic, Indo-Iranian, Hellenic, and Germanic.
Shows conjectures for numbers in the various proto languages of the Indo-European group: Celtic, Balto-Slavic, Italic, Indo-Iranian, Hellenic, and Germanic.
Phonetic Alphabet
Instructions for Americans on pronouncing phonetic symbols.
Instructions for Americans on pronouncing phonetic symbols.
Proto Indo-European Sound System
A simplified, HTML-friendly transcription system for writing PIE without any special characters.
A simplified, HTML-friendly transcription system for writing PIE without any special characters.
Proto-Language
Notes on the idea that there was originally one language from which all others derive.
Notes on the idea that there was originally one language from which all others derive.
The Study of Celtic Languages
From U.C. Berkeley, a look at the migration of the Celts and spread of their languages, and their relatively unstudied place in comparative linguistics despite their connection with the Italic languages.
From U.C. Berkeley, a look at the migration of the Celts and spread of their languages, and their relatively unstudied place in comparative linguistics despite their connection with the Italic languages.