Definition & Meaning of "language family"in English

What is a "language family"?

A language family is a group of languages that are related through a common ancestral language, known as a proto-language. Languages within a family share similarities in vocabulary, grammar, and phonetics due to their historical connections. For example, the Indo-European language family includes languages such as English, Spanish, French, and Hindi, all of which evolved from a common ancestral language. Linguists categorize languages into families based on these shared features, allowing for the study of language development, change, and the relationships between different linguistic systems. Understanding language families helps to trace the evolution of languages and the cultural and historical contexts in which they developed.