Languages - Revision history

User 144 at 12:13, 21 May 2006

2006-05-21T12:13:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:13, 21 May 2006
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	* [[Latin]]		* [[Latin]]
	* [[Old English]]		* [[Old English]]
	[[category:~~languages~~]]		[[category:language]]

User 144: categorising

2006-05-21T12:11:05Z

categorising

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:11, 21 May 2006
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	Another interesting one to study -- the main surviving language of this group is [[Georgia]]n. It is also interesting to note that Georgian has very similar language structure to [[Basque]], indicating that Georgian and the other (minor) [[Caucasian languages]] were originally part of the [[Western Mediterranean]] group -- indicating a further fragment of the ancient tribe that was dispersed by the [[Indo-European]]s.		Another interesting one to study -- the main surviving language of this group is [[Georgia]]n. It is also interesting to note that Georgian has very similar language structure to [[Basque]], indicating that Georgian and the other (minor) [[Caucasian languages]] were originally part of the [[Western Mediterranean]] group -- indicating a further fragment of the ancient tribe that was dispersed by the [[Indo-European]]s.

	== ~~See also~~ ==		== Internal Links==
			''See also:''

	* [[French]]		* [[French]]
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	* [[Latin]]		* [[Latin]]
	* [[Old English]]		* [[Old English]]
			[[category:languages]]

Cian: hittite not period

2004-11-05T02:09:42Z

hittite not period

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:09, 5 November 2004
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	* [[Italic language\|Italic]] and [[Romance language]]s, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic language\|Italic]] and [[Romance language]]s, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.
	* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance language]] group		* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance language]] group
	* [[Hittite~~]],~~ an [[ancient]] ~~language~~ of [[Asia Minor]] which is also ~~a descendant~~ of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].		* Hittite or Anatolian, [[ancient]] languages of [[Asia Minor]] which are also descendants of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. They were all well and truly extinct by the [[Middle Ages]].
	* [[Baltic languages]], such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).		* [[Baltic languages]], such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).
	* [[Slavonic languages]], the most widespread throughout eastern ~~europe~~, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The Baltic and Slavonic languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.		* [[Slavonic languages]], the most widespread throughout eastern Europe, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The Baltic and Slavonic languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.

	There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages]], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).		There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages]], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).

Cian: link to category, but don't be included in it

2004-11-05T00:34:57Z

link to category, but don't be included in it

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 5 November 2004
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	Languages change over time for various reasons, like separation, colonisation and invasion. The meanings, pronounciations and grammar in today's languages may be radically different from those in the [[10th century]]. The article on [[Old English]] gives some example of the gradual changes to [[English]]. The important thing to remember is that there never will be a perfect language as language change is cyclic.		Languages change over time for various reasons, like separation, colonisation and invasion. The meanings, pronounciations and grammar in today's languages may be radically different from those in the [[10th century]]. The article on [[Old English]] gives some example of the gradual changes to [[English]]. The important thing to remember is that there never will be a perfect language as language change is cyclic.

			*[[:category:language\|Complete list of languages in Cunnan]]

	== Language Groups ==		== Language Groups ==

Cian at 04:17, 3 November 2004

2004-11-03T04:17:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:17, 3 November 2004
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	* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Old Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Middle English]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.		* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Old Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Middle English]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.
	* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.		* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.
	* [[Italic language\|Italic]] and [[Romance ~~languages~~]], such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic language\|Italic]] and [[Romance language]]s, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.
	* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[~~Romance languages\|~~Romance language]] group		* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance language]] group
	* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].		* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].
	* [[Baltic languages]], such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).		* [[Baltic languages]], such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).
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	There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages]], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).		There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages]], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).

	=== [[Finno-Ugric]] languages ===		=== Finno-Ugric languages ===

	The [[Finno-Ugric]] language group is a much smaller group than [[Indo-European]]. It evolved from the ancient [[Finnish]] languages which have existed from the stone age in the forests of Finland and northern Europe.		The [[Finno-Ugric]] language group is a much smaller group than [[Indo-European]]. It evolved from the ancient Finnish languages which have existed from the stone age in the forests of [[Finland]] and northern Europe.

	The main languages in the [[Finno-Ugric]] group are:		The main languages in the Finno-Ugric group are:

	* [[Finnish]]		* [[Finnish]]
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	* [[Estonian]]		* [[Estonian]]

	Yes, the spread of these languages is interesting. The [[Magyar]]s were originally a northern steppe tribe descended from the Finns		Yes, the spread of these languages is interesting. The [[Magyar]]s were originally a northern steppe tribe descended from the Finns.

	The [[Finno-Ugric]] languages are all [[Wikipedia:Agglutinative\|Agglutinative languages]], which mean that they use prefixes and suffixes to indicate the grammatical role of the words. Note that the [[Turkic]] and other [[Steppe]] languages such as [[Mongol]]ian are also agglutinative and have many similar grammatical structures, which seems to indicate a connection between these language groups, possibly a very [[ancient]] connection.		The Finno-Ugric languages are all [[Wikipedia:Agglutinative\|Agglutinative languages]], which mean that they use prefixes and suffixes to indicate the grammatical role of the words. Note that the [[Turkic]] and other [[Steppe]] languages such as [[Mongol]]ian are also agglutinative and have many similar grammatical structures, which seems to indicate a connection between these language groups, possibly a very [[ancient]] connection.

	=== [[Semitic]] and [[Hamitic]] languages ===		=== Semitic and Hamitic languages ===

	It is worth considering these together as they almost form a combined group. The [[Hamitic languages]] are as closely related to [[Semitic langauges\|Semitic]] as they are to each other.		It is worth considering these together as they almost form a combined group. The [[Hamitic languages]] are as closely related to [[Semitic langauges\|Semitic]] as they are to each other.
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	* ''magdelet'' means "magnifier" (lens)		* ''magdelet'' means "magnifier" (lens)

	The languages all have [[alphabet]]s (eg: the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].		The languages all have [[alphabet]]s (eg: the Hebrew alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].

	=== [[Western Mediterranean]] languages ===		=== [[Western Mediterranean]] languages ===

Cian at 04:41, 2 November 2004

2004-11-02T04:41:06Z

Cian: clean-up links

2004-11-02T03:45:52Z

clean-up links

Conrad Leviston: /* Indo-European languages */ minor link alteration

2004-10-25T12:20:12Z

Indo-European languages: minor link alteration

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:20, 25 October 2004
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	* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Anglo-Saxon]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.		* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Anglo-Saxon]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.
	* [[Celtic]] ~~languages~~, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.		* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.
	* [[Italic]] and [[Romance]] languages, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western european language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic]] and [[Romance]] languages, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western european language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.
	* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian]] language group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance]] language groups		* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian]] language group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance]] language groups

130.194.13.102: /* Indo-European languages */

2004-10-18T22:08:22Z

Indo-European languages

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:08, 19 October 2004
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	The [[Indo-European]] language group, or more properly group of language groups, comprises the following sub-groups:		The [[Indo-European]] language group, or more properly group of language groups, comprises the following sub-groups:

	* [[~~Teutonic~~]] ~~languages~~, such as [[Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Anglo-Saxon]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.		* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Anglo-Saxon]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.
	* [[Celtic]] languages, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.		* [[Celtic]] languages, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.
	* [[Italic]] and [[Romance]] languages, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western european language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic]] and [[Romance]] languages, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western european language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.

Cian: remove rubbish about school policies

2004-08-30T01:55:25Z

remove rubbish about school policies

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:55, 30 August 2004
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	~~There~~ ~~are a~~ ~~few~~ '''~~Languages~~''' that are of interest to people in the [[SCA]]. ~~Most notably~~ [[French]], [[Old English]] and [[Latin]]. Most members of the SCA speak [[English]].		The main historical '''languages''' that are of interest to people in the [[SCA]] are [[French]], [[Old English]] and [[Latin]]. Most members of the SCA speak [[English]].

	Languages change over time ~~and~~ ~~there~~ ~~exists~~ ~~the~~ ~~opinion~~ ~~that~~ ~~schools should~~ ~~follow this change~~. ~~In fact the opposite is~~ ~~true~~, ~~schools~~ ~~should~~ ~~help~~ ~~slow~~ ~~or arrest changes to~~ languages as ~~lingual~~ ~~consistency~~ ~~makes~~ ~~communication~~ ~~with~~ ~~our~~ ~~past~~ ~~possible~~ ~~(albeit that communication is one way)~~. The article on [[Old English]] gives some example of the gradual changes to [[English]].		Languages change over time for various reasons, like separation, colonisation and invasion. The meanings, pronounciations and grammar in today's languages may be radically different from those in the [[10th century]]. The article on [[Old English]] gives some example of the gradual changes to [[English]]. The important thing to remember is that there never will be a perfect language as language change is cyclic.

	== Language Groups ==		== Language Groups ==
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	The common theme amongst these languages is that they all exhibit a pattern of root words consisting of three consonants, with vowel changes, prefixes, and suffixes used to inflect them. For instance, in Hebrew:		The common theme amongst these languages is that they all exhibit a pattern of root words consisting of three consonants, with vowel changes, prefixes, and suffixes used to inflect them. For instance, in Hebrew:

	* gdl means "big" but is no part of speech and not a word, just a root		* ''gdl'' means "big" but is no part of speech and not a word, just a root
	* gadol means "big" and is an adjective		* ''gadol'' means "big" and is an adjective
	* gidel means "he magnified"		* ''gidel'' means "he magnified"
	* magdelet means "magnifier" (lens)		* ''magdelet'' means "magnifier" (lens)

	The languages all have alphabets (eg: the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].		The languages all have alphabets (eg: the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:41, 2 November 2004
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	* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Old Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Middle English]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.		* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Old Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Middle English]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.
	* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.		* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.
	* [[Italic ~~languages~~\|Italic]] and [[Romance languages]], such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic language\|Italic]] and [[Romance languages]], such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.
	* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance languages\|Romance language]] group		* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance languages\|Romance language]] group
	* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].		* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].
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	* [[Slavonic languages]], the most widespread throughout eastern europe, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The Baltic and Slavonic languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.		* [[Slavonic languages]], the most widespread throughout eastern europe, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The Baltic and Slavonic languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.

	There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).		There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages]], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).

	=== [[Finno-Ugric]] languages ===		=== [[Finno-Ugric]] languages ===
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	Yes, the spread of these languages is interesting. The [[Magyar]]s were originally a northern steppe tribe descended from the Finns		Yes, the spread of these languages is interesting. The [[Magyar]]s were originally a northern steppe tribe descended from the Finns

	The [[Finno-Ugric]] languages are all [~~http~~:~~//en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Agglutinative Agglutinative ~~language~~]s, which mean that they use prefixes and suffixes to indicate the grammatical role of the words. Note that the [[Turkic]] and other [[Steppe]] languages such as [[Mongol]]ian are also agglutinative and have many similar grammatical structures, which seems to indicate a connection between these language groups, possibly a very [[ancient]] connection.		The [[Finno-Ugric]] languages are all [[Wikipedia:Agglutinative\|Agglutinative languages]], which mean that they use prefixes and suffixes to indicate the grammatical role of the words. Note that the [[Turkic]] and other [[Steppe]] languages such as [[Mongol]]ian are also agglutinative and have many similar grammatical structures, which seems to indicate a connection between these language groups, possibly a very [[ancient]] connection.

	=== [[Semitic]] and [[Hamitic]] languages ===		=== [[Semitic]] and [[Hamitic]] languages ===

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 2 November 2004
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	* The [[Western Mediterranean]] language group.		* The [[Western Mediterranean]] language group.
	* The [[Semitic]] ~~language~~ group.		* The [[Semitic languages]] group.
	* The [[Hamitic]] ~~language~~ group.		* The [[Hamitic languages]] group.
	* The [[Caucasian]] ~~language~~ group.		* The [[Caucasian languages]] group.

	=== [[Indo-European]] languages ===		=== [[Indo-European]] languages ===
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	The [[Indo-European]] language group, or more properly group of language groups, comprises the following sub-groups:		The [[Indo-European]] language group, or more properly group of language groups, comprises the following sub-groups:

	* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[~~Anglo-Saxon~~]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.		* [[Germanic Language]]s, such as [[Old Norse]], [[German]], [[English]] (including [[Old English]], [[Middle English]], etc), [[Danish]], [[Swedish]], etc.
	* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.		* [[Celtic Language]]s, such as [[Breton]], [[Welsh]], [[Gaelic]], etc.
	* [[Italic]] and [[Romance]] languages, such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western ~~european~~ language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.		* [[Italic languages\|Italic]] and [[Romance languages]], such as [[Italian]], [[French]] and its dialects (including [[Waloon]], [[Provencal]], etc), [[Spanish]], etc. Most of these languages are derived from [[Latin]] or its ancestral [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]]. Also included in this group is [[Romanian]] -- it's interesting to find an essentially western European language hiding in eastern Europe, but there's a story to that.
	* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian]] language group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance]] ~~language groups~~		* [[Greek]] and [[Illyrian]] which are also off-shoots of the same [[Thraco-Phrygian languages\|Thraco-Phrygian language]] group that gave birth to [[Latin]] and the [[Romance languages\|Romance language]] group
	* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian]] languages.		* [[Hittite]], an [[ancient]] language of [[Asia Minor]] which is also a descendant of the [[Thraco-Phrygian languages]].
	* [[Baltic]] languages, such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).		* [[Baltic languages]], such as [[Lithuanian]] and [[Latvian]] or [[Lettish]] (but not [[Estonian]]).
	* [[Slavonic]] languages, the most widespread throughout eastern europe, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The [[Baltic]] and [[Slavonic]] languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.		* [[Slavonic languages]], the most widespread throughout eastern europe, including [[Russian]], [[Polish]], [[Serbian]], [[Croat]], [[Ukrainian]], etc. The Baltic and Slavonic languages are distantly related, but distinct enough to form separate language groups.

	There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [~~http~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Inflected_language Inflectional languages], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although [[English]] is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic]] languages are much more inflectional).		There are enough similarities between all of the [[Indo-European]] languages to tie them together -- for example they are all [[Wikipedia:Inflected_language\|Inflectional languages], which means that the structure of a word changes form to indicate its grammatical function. e.g. in [[English]] ''who'', ''whose'', and ''whom'' are inflected nominative, genitive, and accusative forms of the same word (although English is not a highly inflectional language -- most of the [[Slavonic languages]] are much more inflectional).

	=== [[Finno-Ugric]] languages ===		=== [[Finno-Ugric]] languages ===
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	=== [[Semitic]] and [[Hamitic]] languages ===		=== [[Semitic]] and [[Hamitic]] languages ===

	It is worth considering these together as they almost form a combined group. The [[Hamitic]] ~~languages~~ are as closely related to [[Semitic]] as they are to each other.		It is worth considering these together as they almost form a combined group. The [[Hamitic languages]] are as closely related to [[Semitic langauges\|Semitic]] as they are to each other.

	The main languages in these groups are [[Hebrew]], [[Arabic]] and in earlier times [[Aramaic]] and the various north [[Africa]]n and [[Egypt]]ian languages.		The main languages in these groups are [[Hebrew]], [[Arabic]] and in earlier times [[Aramaic]] and the various north [[Africa]]n and [[Egypt]]ian languages.
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	* ''magdelet'' means "magnifier" (lens)		* ''magdelet'' means "magnifier" (lens)

	The languages all have ~~alphabets~~ (eg: the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].		The languages all have [[alphabet]]s (eg: the [[Hebrew]] alphabet, or alef-bet), which contain a set of consonants, with the vowels written around, under, following, or above the consonants. They are written right-to-left, rather than left-to-right as in [[English]].

	=== [[Western Mediterranean]] languages ===		=== [[Western Mediterranean]] languages ===
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	There are many theories on the relationship between these languages, and many difficulties involved in analysing them (mostly because nobody speaks [[Etruscan]] or the [[Aegean]] language any more, and we can't read the surviving inscriptions in this language). It is possible that the language group was more widespread in neolithic times, but was pushed out by the arrival of the [[Indo-European]]s.		There are many theories on the relationship between these languages, and many difficulties involved in analysing them (mostly because nobody speaks [[Etruscan]] or the [[Aegean]] language any more, and we can't read the surviving inscriptions in this language). It is possible that the language group was more widespread in neolithic times, but was pushed out by the arrival of the [[Indo-European]]s.

	=== [[Caucasian]] languages ===		=== [[Caucasian languages]] ===

	Another interesting one to study -- the main surviving language of this group is [[Georgia]]n. It is also interesting to note that ~~[[Georgia]]n~~ has very similar language structure to [[Basque]], indicating that ~~[[Georgia]]n~~ and the other (minor) [[Caucasian]] languages were originally part of the [[Western Mediterranean]] group -- indicating a further fragment of the ancient tribe that was dispersed by the [[Indo-European]]s.		Another interesting one to study -- the main surviving language of this group is [[Georgia]]n. It is also interesting to note that Georgian has very similar language structure to [[Basque]], indicating that Georgian and the other (minor) [[Caucasian languages]] were originally part of the [[Western Mediterranean]] group -- indicating a further fragment of the ancient tribe that was dispersed by the [[Indo-European]]s.

	== See also ==		== See also ==