The map above shows the countries of Europe, with its language names translated into their very own language.
Have you ever wondered what different European languages call themselves? While English speakers refer to the language spoken in Germany as “German,” Germans themselves call it “Deutsch.”
This fascinating linguistic phenomenon occurs across Europe, where language names often reveal deeper connections to their origins and language families.
The Names Behind The Languages
The map above, created by Jakub Marian, shows the endonyms (native names) of European languages written in their original scripts. These names often differ significantly from their English exonyms (foreign names).
For example, Finnish speakers call their language “suomi,” while Hungarian is known as “magyar” to its native speakers. These endonyms frequently provide insights into historical migrations, cultural influences, and linguistic evolution.
Indo-European Language Family
The majority of European languages belong to the Indo-European family, which itself breaks down into several branches:
Romance Languages evolved from Latin and include:
- French (français)
- Italian (italiano)
- Spanish (español)
- Portuguese (português)
- Romanian (română)
Germanic Languages share ancient origins and include:
- German (Deutsch)
- Dutch (Nederlands)
- Swedish (svenska)
- Norwegian (norsk)
- Danish (dansk)
- English (English)
- Icelandic (íslenska)
Slavic Languages form another significant branch:
- Russian (русский)
- Polish (polski)
- Czech (čeština)
- Slovak (slovenčina)
- Ukrainian (українська)
- Bulgarian (български)
- Croatian (hrvatski)
- Serbian (српски/srpski)
Baltic Languages include:
- Lithuanian (lietuvių)
- Latvian (latviešu)
Celtic Languages were once widespread but are now primarily found in:
- Irish (Gaeilge)
- Welsh (Cymraeg)
- Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig)
- Breton (Brezhoneg)
Non-Indo-European Languages
Several European languages stand apart from the Indo-European family:
Finno-Ugric Languages include:
- Finnish (suomi)
- Hungarian (magyar)
- Estonian (eesti)
Turkic Languages are represented by:
- Turkish (Türkçe)
- Azerbaijani (Azərbaycan)
Basque (euskara) is perhaps Europe’s most mysterious language, considered a language isolate with no proven relation to any other living language.
Etymology Patterns
Looking at these endonyms reveals interesting patterns in how languages name themselves:
- Geographical associations: Many language names derive from the regions where they developed. “français” refers to France, “italiano” to Italy, and so on.
- Tribal or ethnic origins: “Deutsch” comes from the proto-Germanic word “þiudiskaz,” meaning “of the people.” Similarly, “magyar” refers to the ethnic group that brought Hungarian to the Carpathian Basin.
- Distinguishing from neighbors: Some names evolved specifically to differentiate one group from another. Romance languages often used variations of “vulgar” (common) to distinguish themselves from formal Latin.
Linguistic Islands
The map reveals fascinating linguistic islands throughout Europe—regions where the dominant language differs from surrounding areas.
Hungarian (magyar) stands as a Finno-Ugric island surrounded by Indo-European languages, while Basque (euskara) remains an enigmatic isolate in southwestern Europe.
Script Diversity
European languages use several writing systems:
- Latin alphabet (most Western and Central European languages)
- Cyrillic (Russian, Bulgarian, Serbian, etc.)
- Greek alphabet (Greek)
Some languages have unique characters added to the Latin alphabet, like Polish (ł, ą, ę), Swedish (å, ä, ö), and Icelandic (þ, ð).
Conclusion
The names languages give themselves often reveal deeper historical and cultural connections than their English equivalents. Understanding these endonyms provides insight into Europe’s rich linguistic tapestry and the complex historical processes that shaped the continent’s cultural landscape.
Next time you encounter a European language, try referring to it by its native name—it might give you a deeper appreciation for its unique identity and heritage.
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