Phylogenetic linguistics

Phylogenetic linguistics applies methods from biological evolution to study how languages develop and relate over time. By analyzing similarities and differences in vocabulary, grammar, and sound systems, researchers construct "family trees" that show how languages are connected, much like tracing a family genealogy. This approach helps us understand how languages branch, diverge, and change through history, revealing patterns of linguistic evolution and shared origins among language groups. It offers a scientific framework for studying language history, emphasizing the ancestral relationships and development pathways of different languages.