substrate theory

Substrate theory in linguistics suggests that beneath the surface of a language, there is a foundational layer—called the substrate—that influences the development of subsequent languages. When different groups settle in a region, they bring their own languages, which can leave traces on the local language over time. Think of it like the underlying soil that shapes the landscape above; the substrate language subtly impacts vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar of the new language, even if it’s no longer spoken directly. This concept helps explain how languages evolve and borrow features from earlier languages in their area.