GENETIC (LINGUISTICS)

'Genetic', in linguistics, means due to descent from a common ancestor language, rather than borrowing at some time in the past between languages that were not necessarily descended from a common ancestor. Languages that possess genetic ties with one another belong to the same linguistic grouping, known as a language family. These ties are established through use of the comparative method of linguistic analysis, which relies mainly on shared phonological innovations as the test criteria.

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See also

See also

★ Genetic linguistics

★ Genetic relationship

★ Comparative method

★ Proto-language

★ Areal feature

★ Mass lexical comparison

★ Genetics