proto-language

== English == === Alternative forms === protolanguage === Etymology === From proto- + language. === Pronunciation === === Noun === proto-language (countable and uncountable, plural proto-languages) (linguistics) A language which is reconstructed by examining similarities in existing languages in order to deduce the form and aspects of a common ancestor language that is no longer known. (linguistics) The early utterances produced by an infant before it acquires a true language. ==== Synonyms ==== ur-language Ursprache ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== reconstructed language