"comparative method"의 정의 및 의미

What is the "comparative method"?

The comparative method is a linguistic technique used to identify and analyze similarities and differences between languages in order to reconstruct aspects of their historical development. This method involves comparing phonetic, grammatical, and vocabulary features of related languages to establish relationships among them. By identifying systematic correspondences in sound and meaning, linguists can trace back to a common ancestor language, known as a proto-language. The comparative method is essential in the study of language families, helping researchers understand how languages evolve and diverge over time.