historical linguistics

noun (used with a singular verb)

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

Origin of historical linguistics

First recorded in 1920–25

Also called diachronic linguistics.

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British Dictionary definitions for historical linguistics

historical linguistics

noun

(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 languagesAlso called: diachronic linguistics Compare descriptive linguistics

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