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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The dispersal of the Indo-Europeans began in the Bronze Age.
Little is known about the social structure of the Proto-Indo-Europeans.