The Evolution of Language Contact

Language contact is the process by which two or more languages influence each other, resulting in changes in their grammar, vocabulary, or pronunciation.

Divergence is the process by which two or more languages become increasingly different from each other over time. It is the opposite of convergence.

Language convergence is the process by which two or more languages become more similar to each other over time. This can happen through borrowing, code-switching, or other forms of language contact.

Language shift is the process by which one language replaces another language in a community. This can happen through conquest, colonization, or other forms of social and political change.

Code-switching is the process by which speakers of two or more languages use elements of both languages in their speech. This can happen at the word, phrase, or sentence level.

Borrowing is the process by which one language borrows words or phrases from another language. This can happen through trade, travel, or other forms of cultural contact.

Isolation is the opposite of language contact. It is the lack of contact between two or more languages.

Creolization is the process by which a new language is formed from the contact of two or more languages. It is not a type of language change that can result from language contact.

Monolingualism is the state of speaking only one language. It is not a type of language contact situation.

Dialect is a variety of a language that is spoken in a particular region or by a particular group of people. It is not a type of language contact phenomenon.

Relexification is the process by which a language replaces its vocabulary with words from another language. It is not a type of language contact-induced language change.

Substratum influence is the influence of a language that has been replaced by another language. It is not a type of language contact-induced language change.

Superstratum influence is the influence of a language that has replaced another language. It is not a type of language contact-induced language change.

Adstrate influence is the influence of a language that is spoken in close proximity to another language. It is not a type of language contact-induced language change.

Dialect contact is the contact between two or more dialects of the same language. It is not a type of language contact-induced language change.