Learn the basics of language history, language families and how languages change over time. This first lesson introduces languages, dialects and registers, and hints at how languages are related (and unrelated) to one another.
This is an updated version of an earlier video with the same title. It covers the following concepts: mutual intelligibility, dialects, registers, idiolects, defining language.
Part of a series of linguistics courses for language learners. Visit the site for exercises, examples and explanations:
http://www.nativlang.com/linguistics/historical-linguistics-lessons.php
music by Kevin MacLeod
