Определение и Значение "Germanic languages"

What are "Germanic languages"?

Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family that includes a group of languages spoken primarily in Northern and Western Europe. Major languages in this branch include English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Icelandic. Germanic languages are typically divided into three main groups: West Germanic, which includes English, German, and Dutch; North Germanic, which includes the Scandinavian languages; and East Germanic, which is now extinct but included Gothic. These languages share common linguistic features, such as similar vocabulary, phonetic changes, and grammatical structures, reflecting their historical development from a common ancestor known as Proto-Germanic. The study of Germanic languages offers insights into their evolution, cultural interactions, and the impact of historical events on language change.