Isoglosses

Isoglosses are imaginary lines on a map that mark the boundaries where people use different words, pronunciations, or grammar features. They help linguists see where language features change across regions. For example, an isogloss might separate areas where people say "soda" from those that say "pop." These lines are not fixed borders but indicate shifts in language use, highlighting regional dialects and cultural differences. Isoglosses help us understand how language evolves and spreads in geographical space.