Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics

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Comparative Method
(1,909 words)

Abstract

The comparative method, arrived at in the 19th century, is a set of procedures that allows the reconstruction of prehistoric phases of a language through systematic comparison of linguistic features of attested languages that derive from it. Although it has some inadequacies, it is the backbone of historical linguistics and the most useful tool to recover linguistic history.

1. Definition

The comparative method (CM) aims a…

Cite this page
Alberto Bernabé, “Comparative Method”, in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics, General Editor: Georgios K. Giannakis. Consulted online on 02 April 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2214-448X_eagll_COM_00000066>
First published online: 2013



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