Definition

A type of language that is believed to be the early form or ancestor of a group of languages.

Example

Linguists study protolanguages to understand how modern languages evolved.

Conversation

Have you ever heard about protolanguage?

Yeah, I read that it's like the ancestor of all languages.

Exactly! It's fascinating to think about how languages evolve from a protolanguage.

I know, right? It makes you appreciate our communication so much more.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Protolanguage is formed from "proto-" (meaning first or original) and "language" (from Latin "lingua", meaning tongue or speech). The term refers to a hypothetical, reconstructed ancestral language from which a group of languages is derived.

Memory Tip

Think of 'proto-' meaning first, and remember that a protolanguage is the original language from which others develop.

Visually Confused Words