Editing Historical linguistics (section)

== Evolutionary context ==
In terms of evolutionary theory, historical linguistics (as opposed to research into the [[origin of language]]) studies [[Lamarckism|Lamarckian acquired characteristics]] of languages. This perspective explores how languages adapt and change over time in response to cultural, societal, and environmental factors. Language evolution within the framework of historical linguistics is akin to Lamarckism in the sense that linguistic traits acquired during an individual's lifetime can potentially influence subsequent generations of speakers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Studdert-Kennedy |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Studdert-Kennedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUnrAgAAQBAJ |title=Biological and Behavioral Determinants of Language Development |publisher=Psychology Press |year=1991 |isbn=978-1-317-78389-3 |editor-last=Krasnegor |editor-first=Norman A. |location=New York |publication-date=2014 |page=6 |chapter=Language Development from an Evolutionary Perspective |quote=[...] biological evolution does not proceed by the transmission of acquired characters across generations, and this is precisely what an evolutionary model of language change requires. We therefore must distinguish the cultural, or Lamarckian, evolution of language, a concern of historical linguistics, from its biological, or neo-Darwinian, evolution, a concern of developmental biology. |access-date=2016-12-27 |editor-last2=Rumbaugh |editor-first2=Duane M. |editor-last3=Schiefelbusch |editor-first3=Richard L. |editor-link3=Richard L. Schiefelbusch |editor-last4=Studdert-Kennedy |editor-first4=Michael |editor-link4=Michael Studdert-Kennedy |editor-last5=Thelen |editor-first5=Esther |editor-link5=Esther Thelen |display-editors=etal}}</ref>

=== Rate of adaptation ===
{{main|Conservative (language)}}
Historical linguists often use the terms ''[[conservative (language)|conservative]]'' and ''innovative'' to describe the extent of change within a language variety relative to that of comparable varieties. Conservative languages change less over time when compared to innovative languages.