Final answer:
The comparative method uses data from many different societies to understand cultural and linguistic variations, which is central to linguistic anthropology's investigation of how language reflects and shapes cultural identity and social structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The comparative method in anthropology does not study the evolution of a single language, nor does it focus on one society over a long period of time, and it is not the only accepted method of research in modern anthropology. Instead, the comparative method uses data from many different societies to understand cultural and linguistic variations and developments. Anthropologists compare different cultures to understand development patterns, societal structures, language evolution, and other key aspects of human life. This approach is particularly useful in linguistic anthropology, where researchers focus on understanding language as both a biological and social phenomenon that shapes and reflects cultural identity, social structures, and historical change. Through the comparative method, linguists and anthropologists gain insights into linguistic relativity and the way language shapes our thought processes and worldviews.