What is the purpose of areal linguistics?

Answer by  mammakat (11147)

Areal linguistics is the study of similarities in languages, usually within a defined area, for example overlapping areas in Asia, while having different culture and languages may share similar words or structures- it is believed this goes back to an ancient shared culture, or the "portability" of language over trade routes, where shared language roots have traveled great distances.

Answer by  herzog (555)

Areal linguistics is the study of parallel structures in languages developing next to each other in a particular geographic area. It provides a means of comparing the geneologies of the developement of languages in neighboring groups of people.