Compare | V_A

Compare application

Compare allows the user determining the degree of correspondence between basic dictionaries of two languages and then, using Ch. Swadesh’s formula, to estimate time depth separating two genetically related languages, i.e. to find out at what time the two languages separated from their proto-language.

When working with Compare the user is required:

1) to compile basic dictionaries for two languages or use/modify existing ones. The application's folder already contains a basic dictionary for English compiled by Swadesh as well as German, Russian, and Spanish dictionaries;

2) to set correspondences between symbols in pairs of words using some laws of languages historical development (Grim’s law, Verner’s law for Germanic languages). For example, initial consonants can be safely identified with each other in English drink and German trinken;

3) to compute time depth by Swadesh’s formula. Compare can work with any pairs of languages that use Latin or Cyrillic alphabets.

The detailed tutorial can be found in the application's folder.

The application is intended for experts in comparative linguistics.

The application can work on all WindoThews machines.

Go to Downloads section to get the application.