Discuss results - computerized comparative linguistics

Comparative linguistics - Baltic languages
Posted by: Michel on January 26, 2013, 20:52
I am surprized by the very remote relation between Estonian and the other Baltic languages in your calculator...
Posted by: Vincent on January 27, 2013, 00:07
Yes, the genetic proximity between Estonian and Latvian is 84 and Lithuanian 89. Lithuanian and Latvian have a proximity of 36. I am happy of these results, because even if the region shares a common recent history, the people and languages here came from two main directions:
 
  • Estonian is a Finno-Ugric language - in fact, almost a Finnish dialect (Proximity in this system: 21!).
  • Lithuanian and Latvian are the Baltic branch of the Balto-Slavic branch in Indo-European.
Thank you for this remark as it may be of interest for many other users and is a good example to better understand how the system works.
Posted by: Davor B. on June 9, 2022, 17:03
I was told Lithuanian has many archaic features and is close to Proto Indo-European. I did not find a result in that direction in your calculator. Do you have more analyses from bulk results on your side?
Posted by: Vincent on June 12, 2022, 10:13
Hello Davor,
Thank you for your interest. I have heared this too from Lithuanian speakers. The reality is that Lithuanian is - together with Latvian and Old Prussian (now extinct) a language from the Baltic branch of Indo-European. Next to that branch is Slavic and there is also a Balto-Slavic substract which is now recognized by almost all specialists. The results in our system reflects this point of view: next neighbors of Lithuanian are Old Prussian (25), Latvian (35) and then Old Church Slavonic with 36 followed by the other Slavic languages.
Best regards Vincent
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