protolanguage

[ proh-toh-lang-gwij ]
/ ˈproʊ toʊˌlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

noun Linguistics.

the reconstructed or postulated parent form of a language or a group of related languages.

Origin of protolanguage

First recorded in 1945–50; proto- + language

Words nearby protolanguage

protogenic, protogeometric, protogynous, protohistory, protohuman, protolanguage, protolithic, protolog, protomartyr, protomorphic, proton

British Dictionary definitions for protolanguage

protolanguage
/ (ˌprəʊtəʊˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ) /

noun

an extinct and unrecorded language reconstructed by comparison of its recorded or living descendants Also called: Ursprache