APA ITU LINGUISTIK HISTORIS KOMPARATIF

Summary

This video lecture on historical comparative linguistics delves into the definition and key concepts of the field. It explores how the discipline compares languages to uncover their genetic relationships, focusing on the evolution of languages over time. The lecturer discusses the importance of both synchronic and diachronic studies, exemplified through the development of the Indonesian language. Emphasis is placed on comparing lexical items, grammatical structures, and meanings between languages, aiming to understand the familial ties between them. The session provides insights into the methods of analyzing linguistic changes and relationships.

Takeaways

• 😀 Linguistic historical comparative study examines the development of a language or compares two or more languages to understand their relationship.
• 😀 The study involves analyzing historical language changes over time, focusing on phonology, grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.
• 😀 Comparative linguistics helps determine genetic relationships between languages, such as how languages have evolved from a common ancestor.
• 😀 The comparison can be done synchronically, looking at language conditions in different time periods to track its development.
• 😀 An example of synchronic study is comparing the state of Bahasa Indonesia in 1928 with its present form to observe changes in phonology, syntax, and vocabulary.
• 😀 In historical linguistics, the development of meanings in words is also important. For instance, the word 'sarjana' in Bahasa Indonesia evolved from a broader meaning of 'intellectual' to specifically referring to a university graduate.
• 😀 Language comparison should only be done between languages that are genetically related, such as comparing Sumbawa with Java, but not with languages like English.
• 😀 The goal of linguistic comparative studies is to establish the relationship or degree of kinship between the compared languages.
• 😀 Aspects of language that are compared include basic vocabulary, cultural terms, syntax, sentence structure, and meaning.
• 😀 The analysis should focus on identifying regularities in how words and structures change, and what similarities and differences exist between the languages under comparison.

Q & A

What is historical comparative linguistics?

Historical comparative linguistics is a branch of linguistic science that studies the development of a language and compares two or more languages to understand their genetic relationships. This field is also known as historical linguistics, diachronic linguistics, or comparative linguistics.

What are some other terms used for historical comparative linguistics?

Other terms for historical comparative linguistics include linguistic historico-comparative, diachronic linguistics, comparative linguistics, genetic linguistics, and genealogical linguistics.

What is the main objective of historical comparative linguistics?

The main objective of historical comparative linguistics is to examine the relationships between languages by comparing their developments over time, often to determine their common ancestral roots or genetic relationships.

What two key aspects are crucial when studying historical comparative linguistics?

The two key aspects in historical comparative linguistics are: first, studying the development of a language, which involves understanding its past and current forms; and second, comparing two or more languages to assess their genealogical connections.

Why is it important to understand a language's past when studying historical comparative linguistics?

Understanding a language's past is crucial because it helps to determine how the language has evolved over time. This can provide insights into changes in its sound system, vocabulary, grammar, and meaning.

What is the significance of comparing languages from different time periods?

Comparing languages from different time periods allows researchers to identify changes in the language over time, such as shifts in meaning, structure, or pronunciation, which are essential for understanding the evolution of the language.

Can you provide an example of how the meaning of a word changed over time in Indonesian?

An example from the Indonesian language is the word 'sarjana'. Initially, it referred to a learned or scholarly person. Over time, its meaning narrowed to refer specifically to someone who has completed a degree program in higher education.

How does historical comparative linguistics determine the relationships between languages?

Historical comparative linguistics determines language relationships by comparing fundamental vocabulary and cultural terms between languages, analyzing patterns of sound changes, and looking for systematic similarities and differences in grammar and syntax.

Why can't we compare languages like Javanese and English in historical comparative linguistics?

We cannot compare languages like Javanese and English in historical comparative linguistics because they are not genetically related. The purpose of comparative linguistics is to examine languages assumed to share a common ancestor, and Javanese and English do not share such a relationship.

What aspects of languages are typically compared in historical comparative linguistics?

In historical comparative linguistics, researchers typically compare the phonological systems (sound patterns), lexical items (vocabulary), grammatical structures (syntax), and meanings across different languages to assess their genealogical connections.