Question

Give a short description of the two hypotheses on origin and diffusion of Indo-European.

a) The Steppe Hypothesis suggests that Indo-European languages originated in the Americas and spread to Europe through maritime trade.
b) The Anatolian Hypothesis suggests that Indo-European languages originated in the Anatolian region (modern-day Turkey) and spread from there.
c) The Submarine Hypothesis suggests that Indo-European languages developed underwater and spread to the surface.
d) The Space Hypothesis suggests that Indo-European languages originated on another planet and were brought to Earth by aliens.

Answer 1

Among the hypotheses for the origin of Indo-European languages, the Steppe Hypothesis suggests a Pontic-Caspian steppe origin, while the Anatolian Hypothesis suggests a beginning in modern-day Turkey, with both involving migration and cultural diffusion. The other options mentioned are not academically recognized.

Step-by-step explanation:

The topic in question deals with the hypotheses regarding the origin and diffusion of Indo-European languages. Among the various hypotheses discussed, two stand out:

• The Steppe Hypothesis, which is incorrect in the question as it claims Indo-European languages originated in the Americas, but in reality posits that these languages originated on the Pontic-Caspian steppe around 6,000 years ago and spread through migration and conquest.
• The Anatolian Hypothesis suggests that Indo-European languages first emerged in the region of modern-day Turkey about 8,000 years ago and dispersed with the spread of agriculture.

The other two options given in the question, the Submarine Hypothesis and the Space Hypothesis, are not considered legitimate by the academic community. As such, they are disregarded in serious discussions on the origin of Indo-European languages. Significant attention is given to the fact that Indo-European languages spread to regions like South Asia through migrations, affecting the lingua franca of those regions.