#proto languages

[dsm-wannabe-linguist]

*broke-: common linguistic ancestors who really enjoyed each other’s company and shared words at the weekends

*wʰoke-: broto-languages

[allthingslinguistic]

The Proto-Algonquian Dictionary is now online! 

Here, we can see the reconstructed common word for "shoe" and its descendants in modern Algonquian languages (themselves the origins of English "moccasin"). 

Proto-Indo-European gets a lot of attention as a proto-language, but there are other reconstructed ancestor languages in other areas of the world. Over 4000 vocabulary items have been reconstructed for Proto-Algonquian and it's great to see the classic dictionary that this is based on now publically searchable. 

It’s not the only Proto-Algonquian resource though, so if you can’t find something there, it’s worth trying other papers and books as well (Goddard and Costa in particular have written a lot about Proto-Algonquian). Many modern Algonquian language dictionaries and recordings are available online, such as the Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Language Portal and the Algonquian Linguistic Atlas. 

[dsm-wannabe-linguist]

One of my favourite accidental research loop discoveries is the Wikimedia Commons summary for a photo of the Proto-Semitic letter Gimel, in which a note at the bottom reads “you shit bastards” in German

[dsm-wannabe-linguist]

yeah man i’m just going through some stuff right now you know

[dsm-wannabe-linguist]

Proto-Sinaitic clock

Modern Latin clock

[linguistness]

History of English #3: Proto-Languages

There is the common assumption, that all languages have the same origin language (proto-language), from which all other languages developed. In Europe, this language is considered to be Proto-Indo-European (PIE), which is considered the ‘ancestor language’ of all European language families. Some assume that this language was spoken from around 4500 BC to 2500 BC. 

Scientists are trying to reconstruct this Proto-Indo-European language using methods of linguistic reconstruction. This reconstruction is based on our current knowledge of how the different languages developed and changed over time. Scientists then try to apply this developent “backwards” in order to reconstruct a past language. 

Additionally to this Proto-Indo-European language, there are also theories that a Proto-Germanic language existed, from which all of the Germanic languages developed (Germanic is one of the European language families which includes e.g. English, German, Swedish, etc.). 

[esrescuer]

[daribenetka]

So now a little summary of my conlangs (the human ones) relationships, just to make things easier. Languages at the stage "4" and beyond are still spoken, except few of them (indicated).

0. Proto-Human (25'000-30'000 years ago)

     1. Proto-α (18'000 y.a.)

             2/3. ---> Syllabic, Apophony, more related to English

     1. Proto-β (18'000-15'000 y.a.)

             2. Proto-A (12'000-10'000 y.a.)

                  3. Pānakūren (4'000 y.a.)

                       4. Kūrenki and several dialects/similar languages

                  3. Proto-Lumin (6'000-4'000 y.a.)

                       4. Lumin

                       4.Something like that

                  3. Muscovian (2'000 y.a.)

                     Early (2'500 y.a.):

                       4. Fa

                     Classical (1'500 y.a.):

                       4. Qai Qorin

                       4. Lumin 2

                       4. Others

                  3. Proto-Krekko-Lavian (3'000-2'500 y.a.)

                       4. Krekkan (recently extinct)

                            5. Krekkan lang.s

                       4. Lavian

                            5. Ungi

             2. Proto-B

                  3. Proto-Katith

                       4. Katith lang.s

             2. Proto-C

                  3. ?

                       4. Gwindald Ttolla

                       4. Others

             2.Proto-D

                  ???????????????????

     1. Proto-Man

             2. Pèi-Màn

                  3. Proto-Pèi

                       4. Pèi

                  3. Màn

                       4. Languages of the Desert of Màn

                  3. Ninkai

                       4. Nin (Near to be extinct)

                       4. Kairin

                       4. Extinct lang.s

             2. ĺng

                  Extinct

             2. Lés

                  Extinct