"Indo-European languages"的定义和意义

What are "Indo-European languages"?

Indo-European languages are a large family of related languages that share a common ancestral language, known as Proto-Indo-European. This language family includes many widely spoken languages across Europe and parts of Asia, such as English, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, and Persian. Indo-European languages are typically classified into several branches, including Germanic, Romance, Slavic, Indo-Iranian, and Celtic, among others. Linguists study these languages to understand their historical development, phonetic and grammatical features, and the relationships between them. The study of Indo-European languages provides valuable insights into the migration and cultural exchanges of ancient peoples, as well as the evolution of modern languages.