Proto-Indo-European comes up a lot in my videos, heck, my first two videos were both about
Proto-Indo-European comes up a lot in my videos, heck, my first two videos were both about

P.I.E., but in case you don't know, linguists believe that a huge percentage group of the
P.I.E., but in case you don't know, linguists believe that a huge percentage group of the

world's languages are all descended from one common ancestor.
world's languages are all descended from one common ancestor.

This group includes almost all of the languages of Europe and like a third of the languages
This group includes almost all of the languages of Europe and like a third of the languages

of Asia, mostly around Iran and India, so the group of languages are collectively called
of Asia, mostly around Iran and India, so the group of languages are collectively called

the "Indo-European Languages," and the language that they're all descended from is called
the "Indo-European Languages," and the language that they're all descended from is called

"Proto-Indo-European."
"Proto-Indo-European."

Thing is, linguists don't believe any of this because we have written records of PIE, they
Thing is, linguists don't believe any of this because we have written records of PIE, they

believe it because and only because all the languages of this region are so similar that
believe it because and only because all the languages of this region are so similar that

it's the only reasonable explanation.
it's the only reasonable explanation.

The original Proto-Indo-Europeans didn't leave anything behind, well, OK, they probably did,
The original Proto-Indo-Europeans didn't leave anything behind, well, OK, they probably did,

but they might have been any number of ancient groups of people who left behind a bunch of
but they might have been any number of ancient groups of people who left behind a bunch of

poetry and stuff, and all you have to do to start a fight between linguists is ask them
poetry and stuff, and all you have to do to start a fight between linguists is ask them

whether the proto-indo-europeans lived in modern day Russia or Turkey.
whether the proto-indo-europeans lived in modern day Russia or Turkey.

And yet, that doesn't at all mean that we don't know anything about who these people
And yet, that doesn't at all mean that we don't know anything about who these people

were.
were.

Linguists, including myself, will love telling you how important language is to culture and
Linguists, including myself, will love telling you how important language is to culture and

human society and how it's a reflection of how we see our world, but I don't think there's
human society and how it's a reflection of how we see our world, but I don't think there's

any better example of this then how we've figured out so much about the Proto-Indo-European
any better example of this then how we've figured out so much about the Proto-Indo-European

people just based on their language.
people just based on their language.

For instance, if you remember my last video you'll know that in general, English words
For instance, if you remember my last video you'll know that in general, English words

with a "h" sound tend to correspond to Spanish words with a "k" sound, because early in the
with a "h" sound tend to correspond to Spanish words with a "k" sound, because early in the

history of English all "k" sounds turned into "h" sounds.
history of English all "k" sounds turned into "h" sounds.

But, the word "computer" corresponds to the only barely different Spanish "computadora,"
But, the word "computer" corresponds to the only barely different Spanish "computadora,"

indicating that one language came up with the term and then it spread to the other after
indicating that one language came up with the term and then it spread to the other after

English went through that change.
English went through that change.

Which means, the word for "computer" had to be created after the change English went through,
Which means, the word for "computer" had to be created after the change English went through,

which means the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably didn't have computers.
which means the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably didn't have computers.

Meanwhile, the Spanish word "Casa" corresponds to the English word "House," suggesting that
Meanwhile, the Spanish word "Casa" corresponds to the English word "House," suggesting that

the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably did have a word for house, and therefor probably had
the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably did have a word for house, and therefor probably had

houses.
houses.

Now, those two things are pretty obvious, but we can actually use similar strategies
Now, those two things are pretty obvious, but we can actually use similar strategies

to figure out a lot about Proto-Indo-European culture.
to figure out a lot about Proto-Indo-European culture.

At the most basic level, we can figure out what kind of technology they had.
At the most basic level, we can figure out what kind of technology they had.

We can successfully reconstruct PIE words for wheel, hub and axel, indicating that they
We can successfully reconstruct PIE words for wheel, hub and axel, indicating that they

had wheeled vehicles like wagons and such.
had wheeled vehicles like wagons and such.

They also had words for yoke and thill, and also words for cow, steer, ox and bull, indicating
They also had words for yoke and thill, and also words for cow, steer, ox and bull, indicating

that they had domesticated cattle and that they used them to plow their fields.
that they had domesticated cattle and that they used them to plow their fields.

And yes, we also know that they could farm.
And yes, we also know that they could farm.

They had words for field, for wheat, for barley, and also words for threshing and grinding
They had words for field, for wheat, for barley, and also words for threshing and grinding

grain.
grain.

We also know that they used their cattle for dairy, as they had word for milk, butter and
We also know that they used their cattle for dairy, as they had word for milk, butter and

curds.
curds.

Although those diary products might also have come from goats, because they also had a word
Although those diary products might also have come from goats, because they also had a word

for goats, as well as sheep, ram, lamb, horse and dog.
for goats, as well as sheep, ram, lamb, horse and dog.

They also had words for "wool," as well as a verb for "to weave," indicating that they
They also had words for "wool," as well as a verb for "to weave," indicating that they

knew how to make their own textiles out of wool.
knew how to make their own textiles out of wool.

We don't know much about what they would have eaten, but they did have words for "oven,"
We don't know much about what they would have eaten, but they did have words for "oven,"

"to cook," "to bake," and to boil, so they were making something out of something.
"to cook," "to bake," and to boil, so they were making something out of something.

They also had words for "to brew" and a word for "mead," so we also know that they were
They also had words for "to brew" and a word for "mead," so we also know that they were

definitely drinking something or another.
definitely drinking something or another.

Interestingly, they had a word for door, but in the daughter languages the word for "door"
Interestingly, they had a word for door, but in the daughter languages the word for "door"

usually comes in the form that words take when you're talking about two of them, which
usually comes in the form that words take when you're talking about two of them, which

indicates that their doors might have usually come in pairs of to.
indicates that their doors might have usually come in pairs of to.

They definitely had words for houses and buildings, but we don't know much about what they would
They definitely had words for houses and buildings, but we don't know much about what they would

have been like.
have been like.

We do know one thing about them though, because their word for "roof" also became verbs meaning
We do know one thing about them though, because their word for "roof" also became verbs meaning

"to thatch" in some daughter languages, suggesting that they tended to have thatched roofs.
"to thatch" in some daughter languages, suggesting that they tended to have thatched roofs.

Also, we can reconstruct two different PIE words that both ment "to fart," one that ment
Also, we can reconstruct two different PIE words that both ment "to fart," one that ment

"to fart loudly" and the other that ment "to fart softly."
"to fart loudly" and the other that ment "to fart softly."

That last one doesn't have anything to do with anything, I just thought it was kind
That last one doesn't have anything to do with anything, I just thought it was kind

of funny.
of funny.

OK, so, we can earn about their material culture based on their vocabulary, but can we also
OK, so, we can earn about their material culture based on their vocabulary, but can we also

maybe learn about the way they saw the world through their language?
maybe learn about the way they saw the world through their language?

The ancient greeks had the word "ainumai" which ment "to take," and it's pretty clearly
The ancient greeks had the word "ainumai" which ment "to take," and it's pretty clearly

a cognate with the Tocharian "ai" to give.
a cognate with the Tocharian "ai" to give.

Also, the ancient greek "németai" to allot, is a cognate with the German nehmen, "to take."
Also, the ancient greek "németai" to allot, is a cognate with the German nehmen, "to take."

You find examples of this kind of thing a fair amount in Indo-European languages, where
You find examples of this kind of thing a fair amount in Indo-European languages, where

words that mean "to take" in one language have a common ancestor with words from other
words that mean "to take" in one language have a common ancestor with words from other

languages that mean "to give."
languages that mean "to give."

This is pretty hard to explain until you consider one intriguing possibility: what if the Proto-Indo-Europeans
This is pretty hard to explain until you consider one intriguing possibility: what if the Proto-Indo-Europeans

thought of the two has the same?
thought of the two has the same?

Many modern linguists believe that the Proto-Indo-Europeans had this idea of "mutual gift-giving," the
Many modern linguists believe that the Proto-Indo-Europeans had this idea of "mutual gift-giving," the

idea that when one person gives someone else something, both of them expect that the receiver
idea that when one person gives someone else something, both of them expect that the receiver

will have to give something back to the giver in return, to the extent that neither action
will have to give something back to the giver in return, to the extent that neither action

can really be viewed separately, and that they are in fact two aspects of the same event.
can really be viewed separately, and that they are in fact two aspects of the same event.

Think that one's a bit of a stretch?
Think that one's a bit of a stretch?

Yeah, I'm a bit dubious too, but how about this one: the Proto-Indo-Europeans had words
Yeah, I'm a bit dubious too, but how about this one: the Proto-Indo-Europeans had words

for close family relations just like any other language: father, mother, brother, sister,
for close family relations just like any other language: father, mother, brother, sister,

etcetera.
etcetera.

They also had words that ment "son's wife" and "brother's wife," but not words for "daughter's
They also had words that ment "son's wife" and "brother's wife," but not words for "daughter's

husband" or "sister's husband."
husband" or "sister's husband."

They also had words for husband's father, husband's mother, and husband's brother, but
They also had words for husband's father, husband's mother, and husband's brother, but

not words for wife's father, wife's mother or wife's sister.
not words for wife's father, wife's mother or wife's sister.

All this indicates that when a woman marries a man, she is now a family member to his whole
All this indicates that when a woman marries a man, she is now a family member to his whole

family, but the husband isn't a family member to her family, that when a marriage occurs,
family, but the husband isn't a family member to her family, that when a marriage occurs,

the wife leaves her family to go to her husband's family, not the other way around.
the wife leaves her family to go to her husband's family, not the other way around.

Now this doesn't necessarily mean that their society was incredibly patriarchal, or at
Now this doesn't necessarily mean that their society was incredibly patriarchal, or at

least, it wouldn't if not for the fact that there is a very clear, easily reconstructed
least, it wouldn't if not for the fact that there is a very clear, easily reconstructed

Proto-Indo-European word for "Bride-price," and when you combine that with the Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European word for "Bride-price," and when you combine that with the Proto-Indo-European

idea of reciprocity and mutual gift-giving and you can start to see the whole thing as
idea of reciprocity and mutual gift-giving and you can start to see the whole thing as

two aspects of one exchange and get a bit of a sense for how Proto-Indo-European society
two aspects of one exchange and get a bit of a sense for how Proto-Indo-European society

viewed women.
viewed women.

On a less chauvinistic note, perhaps my favorite part of all this is that we can get an idea
On a less chauvinistic note, perhaps my favorite part of all this is that we can get an idea

of how they viewed the place of humans in the universe.
of how they viewed the place of humans in the universe.

Many words for "human" in Indo-European languages originate from a Proto-Indo-European word
Many words for "human" in Indo-European languages originate from a Proto-Indo-European word

meaning "earth" or "land," indicating that they thought of humans as fundamentally "earthly."
meaning "earth" or "land," indicating that they thought of humans as fundamentally "earthly."

Furthermore, Indo-European cultures widely use the same word to mean both "human" and
Furthermore, Indo-European cultures widely use the same word to mean both "human" and

"mortal," indicating that the Proto-Indo-Europeans thought of humans as also inherently mortal.
"mortal," indicating that the Proto-Indo-Europeans thought of humans as also inherently mortal.

Both of these things are likely ment to be in contrast with things which are neither
Both of these things are likely ment to be in contrast with things which are neither

mortal nor earthly, as in, gods.
mortal nor earthly, as in, gods.

Now, we can't reconstruct to much about Proto-Indo-European religion.
Now, we can't reconstruct to much about Proto-Indo-European religion.

Most Indo-European societies originally believed in a pantheon of many gods, so the Proto-Indo-Europeans
Most Indo-European societies originally believed in a pantheon of many gods, so the Proto-Indo-Europeans

probably did too, but beyond that we don't have to much to go on.
probably did too, but beyond that we don't have to much to go on.

Here's on interesting bit though: The speakers of Vedic Sanskrit believed in a powerful entity
Here's on interesting bit though: The speakers of Vedic Sanskrit believed in a powerful entity

they called "dyáus-pítar," the Greeks originally referred to "Zeus" by the name "Zéu páter,"
they called "dyáus-pítar," the Greeks originally referred to "Zeus" by the name "Zéu páter,"

and the Romans originally called their god "Jupiter" by the name "Iu-piter."
and the Romans originally called their god "Jupiter" by the name "Iu-piter."

All of these phrases can be confidently said to have come from a single name for a supreme
All of these phrases can be confidently said to have come from a single name for a supreme

god in Proto-Indo-European religion, a god who's name literally translated as "Sky Father."
god in Proto-Indo-European religion, a god who's name literally translated as "Sky Father."

Keep in mind how patristical Proto-Indo-European society was.
Keep in mind how patristical Proto-Indo-European society was.

Given how they saw women, the father of a household was almost definitely the household's
Given how they saw women, the father of a household was almost definitely the household's

head, so the idea that the universe would be headed by an entity who was a sort of father
head, so the idea that the universe would be headed by an entity who was a sort of father

to the whole world and who resided in the sky must have made sense to them, as if the
to the whole world and who resided in the sky must have made sense to them, as if the

cosmos was a sort of macrocosm of the home.
cosmos was a sort of macrocosm of the home.

Now, if you think about other stuff you can infer even more about Proto-Indo-European
Now, if you think about other stuff you can infer even more about Proto-Indo-European

society.
society.

For instance, many scholars have noticed how numerous Indo-European peoples divided their
For instance, many scholars have noticed how numerous Indo-European peoples divided their

societies into three-groups, the warriors, the priests, and the commoners, and have suggested
societies into three-groups, the warriors, the priests, and the commoners, and have suggested

that the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably also had such a devision.
that the Proto-Indo-Europeans probably also had such a devision.

However, others think that this devision might originally have just been a sort of idea or
However, others think that this devision might originally have just been a sort of idea or

a conceptualization of their society that at the time didn't actually affect their day-to-day
a conceptualization of their society that at the time didn't actually affect their day-to-day

behavior.
behavior.

Either way, though, I just think that it's one of the coolest achievements of modern
Either way, though, I just think that it's one of the coolest achievements of modern

linguistics that we've managed to learn so much about these people, that, despite the
linguistics that we've managed to learn so much about these people, that, despite the

fact that we have almost no idea where they might have lived or when, despite the fact
fact that we have almost no idea where they might have lived or when, despite the fact

they they left no written records or pictures or even pottery or ruins that we can confidently
they they left no written records or pictures or even pottery or ruins that we can confidently

associate with them, despite all that we've managed to look only at the words they left
associate with them, despite all that we've managed to look only at the words they left

behind for us and we've used those words as a window into their thoughts and feelings
behind for us and we've used those words as a window into their thoughts and feelings

in a way clay pots or brick houses never could have.
in a way clay pots or brick houses never could have.

Catch me later for more linguistics videos!
Catch me later for more linguistics videos!