Defining Language Isolates
A language isolate is a natural language that has no demonstrable genetic relationship with any other known natural language. This means it is not proven to be related to any other language, living or extinct, past or present.
Understanding the Options
- Option 1: States that language isolates are not known to be related to any other languages. This is the correct definition.
- Option 2: Suggests they are spoken in isolated geographical areas. While some isolates might be found in such areas, this is not the defining characteristic. Geographic isolation does not equal linguistic isolation.
- Option 3: Claims they lack dialectal or sociolectal varieties. This is incorrect; most languages, including isolates, exhibit internal variation.
- Option 4: Describes languages geographically separated within their family. This refers to geographic distribution within a language family, not to languages lacking any known relatives.
Conclusion
Based on the definition in linguistics, a language isolate is unique because its origins and relationships to other languages cannot be traced. Therefore, the defining characteristic is the lack of known relationship to any other language family.
The correct option is: are not known to be related to any other languages.
Important Questions from Words
- The word-formation process of Backformation can apply to which ONE of the following pairs?
Choose the statement where underlined word is used correctly.
(A) When the teacher eludes to different authors, he is being elusive.
(B) When the thief keeps eluding the police, he is being elusive.
(C) Matters that are difficult to understand, identify or remember are allusive.
(D) Mirages can be allusive, but a better way to express them is illusory.- The unruly crowd demanded that the accused be ______ without trial.
Which linguistic process can be seen in the formation of the following words?
i. smog, ii. brunch, iii. motel iv. telecast
- Which one of the following is a famous detective character created by Edgar Allan Poe?
