Sprachbund

SPRACHBUND

A sprachbund is an ensemble of neighbouring languages within a defined geographical area and without a close genetic heritage, which share certain structural features. The correspondences or similarities arise from language contact. Areal linguistics is about the diffusion of structural features across the languages and dialects of a defined geographical area. Owing to language contact which often involves bi- or trilingualism, the languages of such an area draw lose and develop shared features.

Linguistic maps featuring several grammatical and phonological features, created by R. Pereira, a graduated linguist and conlanger.

7