Linguistic Contact
Linguistic Contact
the reciprocal action and influence between languages that occurs as the result of contact between speakers of the languages. Linguistic contact usually occurs within defined geographic areas and is conditioned by ethnic, historical, and social factors. On the level of the idiolect, or the language of an individual, linguistic contact results in interference; on the level of languages in general, it results in convergence. Given intensive and prolonged linguistic contact, convergent development may lead to the formation of linguistic alliances. Linguistic contact may also result in the development of various koines and international languages.