Phono-typological distances between Baltic and Slavonic languages Cover Image

Фоно-типологические расстояния между балтийскими и славянскими языками
Phono-typological distances between Baltic and Slavonic languages

Author(s): Jurij Tambovcev
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Instytut Slawistyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: typology; closeness of languages; sound picture; phono-typological picture; “Chi-square” criterion.

Summary/Abstract: The application of “Chi-square” criterion allows us to measure the distances between languages objectlively. The phono-typological distance between Baltic and Slavonic languages was measured. The phono-typological distance between Lithuanian and Latvian languages is much greater than between Lithuanian and Old Russian. The sound picture of Lithuanian is more similar to modern Russian (6,07) than to Latvian. In its turn, Latvian’s sound picture is more similar to Old Russian (2,47) than Lithuanian. Latvian is more similar to modern Russian (3,65) than Lithuanian by its sound picture. The closeness of Baltic and Slavonic languages may be explained by the former language unity and by intensive language contacts.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 35
  • Page Range: 143-157
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Russian