Genetic (linguistics)

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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.

[edit] See also

• Genetic linguistics
• Genetic relationship
• Comparative method
• Proto-language
• Areal feature
• Mass lexical comparison
• Genetics

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