typological theory

Typological theory is a way of studying languages by comparing and categorizing them based on common structural features. Instead of focusing on individual languages' specifics, it groups languages into types or patterns based on shared grammatical traits, such as word order or verb forms. This approach helps linguists understand how different languages are related, how they develop, and how language structures evolve over time. Essentially, it's a comparative tool that reveals the underlying structures common to many languages, offering insights into language diversity and universality without requiring knowledge of any single language's details.