LINGUISTIC AREAS IN EUROPE: THEIR BOUNDARIES 

 AND POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE.^ 



By Leon Dominian. 



[With 5 maps iti color.] 

 1. INTRODUCTION. 



The purpose of this paper is to show that definite relations exist 

 between linguistic areas in Europe and the geography of the con- 

 tinent and that application of facts derived from a study of this 

 science to frontier delimitation is valid and practicable. The work 

 was planned and executed under the direction of Councillor Madi- 

 son Grant, who has drawn on his studies of European anthropology 

 and history, as well as on a wide knowledge of the European con- 

 tinent, to supply the writer with numerous notes, besides carefully 

 revising the final proof and making many valuable additions. It 

 is regretted that limitations of space have necessitated restricting 

 presentation of a number of fundamental relations to bare state- 

 ments of fact. This deficiency is remedied in part by the list of 

 sources given in the footnotes. The nationality of authorities cited 

 should be determined prior to consultation, as divergences of views 

 corresponding to conflicting national aims are not infrequent.- 



Modern history has entered a stage in which determination of 

 national boundaries is intimately connected with distribution of 

 languages. International events in the past two centuries have been 

 marked by constant endeavor to provide conformity of political and 

 linguistic frontiers. The progress of western Europe in this respect 

 is satisfactory. The eastern section of the continent contains prob- 

 lems which have defied diplomatic solution. 



Linguistic areas in common Avith other data of geography have 

 been largely determined by the character of the surface covered or 



1 Reprinted by courtesy of the American Geographical Society of New York. Bulletin of 

 the American Geographical Society, vol. 47, June, 1015. 



~ Acknowledgment of important suggestions is due to Profs. Palmer, Le Compte, and 

 Seymour of Yale University, as well as to Prof. Jordan of Columhia University. 



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