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Indo-European Linguistics

The subject of Indo-European Linguistics (also known as Comparative Philology) is the Indo-European language family. In the 19th century, a reliable methodology was used to prove that many European and Asian languages are “related” to each other: Indic, Iranian, Tocharian, Armenian, Anatolian, Greek, Baltic, Slavic, Italic, Celtic, Germanic. These languages go back to a common precursor, the original Indo-European basic language, and have developed from this in different ways. Indo-European Linguistics prefers to focus on the earliest tangible textual evidence in the individual languages mentioned and, on this basis, attempts to record the oldest stages of these languages as accurately as possible and to determine their history and prehistory. By comparing the languages with each other, conclusions can be drawn about their origin, the unattested Proto-Indo-European language. In addition to a comprehensive education in Indo-European Linguistics, Marburg also offers a specialization in Hittitology, which deals with the language and culture of the Hittites. 

In Marburg, you can choose Indo-European Linguistics as a major or minor subject in the new Marburg combined Bachelor's degree program. We also offer an advanced Master's degree in Indo-European Linguistics.