Translation guide
Refers to the reconstructed ancestor language of the Indo-European language family. In Japanese, it is primarily expressed through specific academic terms.
Referring to the Proto-Indo-European language itself.
Standard academic term for the Proto-Indo-European language. Literally 'Indo-European ancestral language'.
印欧祖語は紀元前4500年頃に話されていたと考えられている。
Proto-Indo-European is thought to have been spoken around 4500 BCE.
Alternative term, using the full 'Indo-European' in katakana. Slightly less common than 印欧祖語 but equally valid.
インド・ヨーロッパ祖語の再建は比較言語学の重要な課題だ。
The reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European is an important task in comparative linguistics.
Rarely used term, literally 'Indo-European base language'. May appear in older or highly specialized texts.
印欧基語の音韻体系については諸説ある。
There are various theories about the phonological system of Proto-Indo-European.
Referring to the hypothetical prehistoric people who spoke Proto-Indo-European or their culture.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'the people who spoke Proto-Indo-European'. Natural and clear.
印欧祖語を話した人々の故地については議論が続いている。
The homeland of the people who spoke Proto-Indo-European is still debated.
Literally 'Proto-Indo-European people'. Used in some academic contexts but less common than descriptive phrases.
原印欧人の社会構造についてはほとんど分かっていない。
Little is known about the social structure of the Proto-Indo-Europeans.
In linguistics, 印欧祖語 is the standard term. Avoid using インド・ヨーロッパ祖語 in very formal academic writing unless the style guide prefers it, as 印欧祖語 is more concise.
Refers to the Indo-European language family or its speakers as an ethnic/linguistic group. Can be used in contexts discussing the ancestral population.
印欧語族の拡散は青銅器時代に始まった。
The dispersal of the Indo-Europeans began in the Bronze Age.