What is a "language family"?

A language family refers to a collective of languages that have evolved from a common ancestral language, which is often referred to as a "proto-language." This means that the members of a language family share linguistic features, such as vocabulary, grammar, and phonetics, because they descend from a single original source. For example, the Indo-European language family includes languages such as English, Spanish, Hindi, and many others, all of which trace their roots back to an ancient language that is no longer spoken.

Language families provide a framework for linguists to understand the relationships between languages and how they have diverged over time due to factors such as migration, cultural exchange, and isolation. By grouping languages into families, researchers can analyze patterns in language development and changes.