historical linguistics

American  

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the study of changes in a language or group of languages over a period of time.

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historical linguistics British  

noun

1. Also called: diachronic linguistics.  (functioning as singular) the study of language as it changes in the course of time, with a view either to discovering general principles of linguistic change or to establishing the correct genealogical classification of particular languages Compare descriptive linguistics

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Etymology

Origin of historical linguistics

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

These kinds of transitions make historical linguistics rather like archaeology.

From Scientific American

The conventional wisdom held in the field of historical linguistics is the vocal apparatus of human beings has remained fixed since the emergence of Homo sapiens some 200,000 years ago.

From Scientific American

But just as evolutionary biology explains the platypus, historical linguistics shows how the three verbs piled up on each other.

From Economist

Davies, M. Expanding horizons in historical linguistics with the 400-million word Corpus of Historical American English.

From Nature

I have noticed a real shift in attitudes towards computational-modeling approaches in historical linguistics, from being just an odd sideshow to a clear focus of attention.”

From Scientific American