language island

noun

An enclave where a language is physically isolated from similar languages.

OriginGerman Sprachinsel →
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Meanings

nounlanguage island (plural language islands)

plural language islands

  1. human sciencesAn enclave where a language is physically isolated from similar languages.

Origin

  1. GermanSprachinsel
  2. Englishlanguage island

Calque of German Sprachinsel.

More words from German

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese 語言島 /语言岛
  • 語言島 /语言岛 (yǔyándǎo)Translations
Finnish kielisaari
  • kielisaariTranslations
German Sprachinsel
  • SprachinselTranslations
Swedish språkö, språklig enklav
  • språköTranslations
  • språklig enklavTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

language island. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/language%20island

MLA

“language island.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/language%20island. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “language island,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/language%20island.

Source: language island on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.