| TekstiTämä on erikoisominaisuus.
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<P align="justify"> Proto-language i … <P align="justify"> Proto-language is a term used in historical linguistics. If two or more languages share a sufficient number of common features which can be considered to be have the same origins, they can be regarded as descendants of a common original language called a proto-language. Two languages may have common features for two different reasons: they may be vertically descended from an earlier stage in the languages, i.e. from a common proto-language, or they may be of horizontal origin, i.e. common to both languages as a result of contacts between them. Vertical affinity can be distinguished from horizontal by comparing different stages in the development of the languages. By comparing the vocabulary ([[Word|word]]), it is possible to ascertain not only the number and type of common words (cognates) but also to construct rules that describe how their pronunciation has changed over time in the different languages. These rules are called sound laws, which can then be applied to test the validity of new candidate cognates, and to compare grammatical elements. In fact, in establishing a proto-language, grammar that is the common structures and elements of the grammars of different languages, is more important than vocabulary. This is because grammar more rarely undergoes horizontal change, i.e. the influence of languages on one another, whereas vocabulary is typically prone to move from one language to another in the form of borrowings (loan words). The structure of a grammar and its basic elements in a language are inherited vertically. In historical linguistics, it is necessary to hypothesize proto-language phases, which makes it possible to investigate the history of a language at different stages in its development.</P>
<P align="justify"> The proto-language of the Saami languages is [[Proto-Saami|Proto-Saami]], from which all the modern Saami languages are descended. Proto-Saami in its different stages was spoken about 3000-6000 years ago. Historical linguists distinguish four different stages of Proto-Saami, which are characterized by developments in vocabulary and grammar. The common proto-language of the Saami languages and the Baltic-Finnic languages (including Finnish) is the [[Early proto-finnic|Early Proto-Finnic]]. This is estimated to date back approx. 3000 years. Early Proto-Finnic in turn is descended from an earlier Finno-Ugric proto-language, as are Proto-Samoyedic (and the modern Samoyedic languages that are descended from it), Proto-Ugric (the ancestor of Khanty, Mansi and Hungarian) and the other Finno-Ugric languages ([[Language kinship|Language relationship]]). Early Proto-Finnic is a so-called intermediate proto-language (between Proto-Finno-Ugric and Proto-Saami). One can only assume the existence of such an intermediate proto-language if the reconstructed elements ([[Linguistic reconstruction|Linguistic reconstruction]]) in it are represented as widely as possible in both/all the languages that are assumed to be descended from it and are absent from other languages of the same family.</P>er languages of the same family.</P> +
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