Ural-Altaic languages

Ural-Altaic languages

      hypothetical language grouping that includes all the languages of the Uralic and Altaic language families. Most of the evidence for including the Uralic and Altaic languages in one language family is based on similarities of language structure rather than on a common core of inherited vocabulary. Common Ural-Altaic linguistic features present in most of the languages include vowel harmony (i.e., vowels in the same word must harmonize in method of articulation); grammatical traits typical of languages with a basic subject–object–verb sentence word order—e.g., the complete absence of prefixes; the use of suffixes and postpositions to express the grammatical modifications that are expressed in English by prepositions; lack of adjectival declension and of grammatical gender; and similarity in form of nouns and verbs. These types of similarities frequently arise through language contact and are not considered a valid basis for establishing genetic relationship.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Ural-Altaic languages — The Ural Altaic languages constitute a hypothetical language family uniting the Uralic and Altaic language families. This hypothetical language family is also known as Uralo Altaic . History of the hypothesis The Altaic hypothesis, as originally… …   Wikipedia

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  • Ural-Altaic — [yoor′əlal tā′ik] n. a proposed language grouping that contains all the Uralic and Altaic languages adj. designating or of this group of languages …   English World dictionary

  • Ural-Altaic — U ral Al*ta ic, a. Of or pertaining to the Urals and the Altai; as the Ural Altaic, or Turanian, languages. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ural-Altaic — /yoor euhl al tay ik/, adj. 1. of or pertaining to the Ural Mountains, on the border between the Russian Federation in Europe and Siberia, and the Altai Mountains, in S Siberia and NW Mongolia, or the country or peoples around them. 2. of or… …   Universalium

  • Ural-Altaic — Turanian Tu*ra ni*an, a. [From Tur, the name, in Persian legendary history, of one of the three brothers from whom sprang the races of mankind.] Of, pertaining to, or designating, an extensive family of languages of simple structure and low grade …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ural-Altaic — noun Date: 1853 a postulated language family comprising the Uralic and Altaic languages • Ural Altaic adjective …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Ural-Altaic — /ˌjurəl ælˈteɪɪk/ (say .yoohruhl al tayik) adjective 1. of or relating to the Ural Mountains, on the border between European Russia and Siberia, and the Altai Mountains, in southern Siberia and north western Mongolia, or the country or peoples… …  

  • Ural-Altaic — adjective relating to or denoting a hypothetical language group formerly proposed to include the Uralic and Altaic languages …   English new terms dictionary

  • Ural-Altaic — U′ral Alta′ic n. peo a hypothesized language family that includes the Uralic family and the Altaic languages …   From formal English to slang

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