Germanic languages
Germanic languages
Germanic languages (pronunciation: /dʒəˈmænɪk ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒɪz/) are a branch of the Indo-European language family spoken natively by a population of approximately 515 million people mainly in Europe, North America, Oceania, and Southern Africa.
Etymology
The term "Germanic" originated from Julius Caesar who used it to categorize the people on the east of the Rhine river who had distinct cultural and linguistic characteristics from the Celtic tribes. The name was then adopted by Tacitus, a Roman historian, and has been in use ever since.
Classification
Germanic languages are divided into three groups: West, East, and North Germanic. The extinct East Germanic languages include Gothic, Burgundian, and Vandalic. The West Germanic languages include English, German, and Dutch. The North Germanic languages, often referred to as the Nordic languages, include Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faroese.
Characteristics
Germanic languages are known for their use of the verb-second word order and the Germanic umlaut, a type of linguistic vowel mutation. They also share vocabulary that is not found in other Indo-European languages, which suggests a common Proto-Germanic heritage.
Related terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Germanic languages
- Wikipedia's article - Germanic languages
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