Spread zone: Difference between revisions
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A '''spread zone''' is an area whose geographical characteristics are conducive to the spread of [[language family|language families]] across a large area, resulting in consecutive language replacement and low linguistic diversity (as opposed to a [[residual zone]]). An example of a spread zone is northern Eurasia, where large areas (the [[wikipedia:Eurasian Steppe|Eurasian Steppe]] in particular) are covered by relatively few language families, most of which are possibly related to each other in a single superfamily (see [[Mitian]]). | A '''spread zone''' is an area whose geographical characteristics are conducive to the spread of [[language family|language families]] across a large area, resulting in consecutive language replacement and low linguistic diversity (as opposed to a [[residual zone]]). The term was coined by linguist Johanna Nichols. | ||
An example of a spread zone is northern Eurasia, where large areas (the [[wikipedia:Eurasian Steppe|Eurasian Steppe]] in particular) are covered by relatively few language families, most of which are possibly related to each other in a single superfamily (see [[Mitian]]). | |||
== Literature == | |||
* Nichols, Johanna. 1992. ''Linguistic diversity in space and time''. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. | |||
[[Category:Linguistics]] | [[Category:Linguistics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:15, 31 December 2011
A spread zone is an area whose geographical characteristics are conducive to the spread of language families across a large area, resulting in consecutive language replacement and low linguistic diversity (as opposed to a residual zone). The term was coined by linguist Johanna Nichols.
An example of a spread zone is northern Eurasia, where large areas (the Eurasian Steppe in particular) are covered by relatively few language families, most of which are possibly related to each other in a single superfamily (see Mitian).
Literature
- Nichols, Johanna. 1992. Linguistic diversity in space and time. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
