Armeno-Phrygian | |
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(proposed) | |
Ethnicity | Armeno-Phrygians |
Geographic distribution | Caucasus, Anatolia |
Linguistic classification | Indo-European
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Proto-language | Proto-Armeno-Phrygian |
Subdivisions |
Part of a series on |
Indo-European topics |
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The name Armeno-Phrygian is used for a hypothetical language branch, which would include the languages spoken by the Phrygians and the Armenians, and would be a branch of the Indo-European language family, or a sub-branch of either the proposed "Graeco-Armeno-Aryan" or "Armeno-Aryan" branches. According to this hypothesis, Proto-Armenian was a language descendant from a common ancestor with Phrygian and was closely related to it. Proto-Armenian differentiated from Phrygian by language evolution over time but also by the Hurro-Urartian language substrate influence. Classification is difficult because little is known of Phrygian, but Proto-Armenian arguably forms a subgroup with Greek and Indo-Iranian.[1][2][3]
There are two conflicting accounts of the origin and presence of the Armenian language in the lands that were Ancient Armenia:
According to some scholars, there is evidence of language borrowings (Armenisms) from the Proto-Armenian language into Hittite and Urartian.[8]
A number of linguists have rejected a close relationship between Armenian and Phrygian, despite saying that the two languages do share some features.[9][10][11][12][13] Phrygian is now classified as a centum language more closely related to Greek than Armenian, whereas Armenian is mostly satem.[14]
Recent research suggests that there is lack of archaeological[15] and genetic evidence[16] for a group from the Balkans entering eastern Asia Minor or the Armenian Highlands during or after the Bronze Age Collapse (as was suggested by Diakonoff).