Tracing English Back to Its Oldest Known Ancestor: An Introduction to Proto-Indo-European
Briefly

The article explores the evolutionary connections between languages and species, suggesting that, similar to biological evolution, all languages may have descended from a common ancestor. Language expert Rob Watts traces the lineage of English back to Proto-Indo-European, highlighting the significance of understanding these connections. The discussion is enriched by a quote from Sir William Jones, who admired the structure of Sanskrit in comparison to Greek and Latin, indicating the depth and complexity of language evolution. This reflects a broader perspective on how languages change and diverge over time, revealing intricate historical ties.
"a language that was theoretically spoken by a single group of people who would eventually go on to become the Swedes, the Germans, the Dutch, the English, and more"
"the ancient Asian language of Sanskrit has a structure ‘more perfect than the Greek, more copious than the Latin, and more exquisitely refined than either’"
Read at Open Culture
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