Search
a type of Indo-European language in which the original palatal or velar consonants evolved into fricatives or affricates, distinguishing it from centum languages that preserved these consonants as stops
What is a "satem language"?
A satem language is a type of Indo-European language that has undergone specific sound changes. In these languages, the ancient sounds that were produced at the back of the mouth have transformed into sounds produced further forward in the mouth. This means that certain words in satem languages can sound quite different from their counterparts in centum languages. Examples of satem languages include Sanskrit, Persian, and the Slavic languages, such as Russian and Polish. Studying satem languages helps linguists understand the evolution and relationships among different Indo-European languages.
satem language
