Historical linguists are interested in __________.
A) comparing certain languages to determine if they were derived from a common ancestral language
B) how people spoke in ancient times
C) how the role of body language differs between different historical periods
D) comparing how the number of basic color words increases in a society over time

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Historical linguists are primarily concerned with examining how languages have changed over time, including comparing related languages to determine if they have a common ancestral language. This is known as comparative linguistics. Option B is partially correct, as historical linguists are interested in how people spoke in the past, but this is only one aspect of their work. Options C and D are not accurate, as historical linguists focus on the study of language specifically, rather than nonverbal communication or color categorization.

Historical Linguists Are Interested in __________