Isogloss
An isogloss, also called a heterogloss (see Etymology below), is the geographic boundary of a certain linguistic feature, such as the pronunciation of a vowel, the meaning of a word, or the use of some syntactic feature. Major dialects are typically demarcated by groups of isoglosses such as the Benrath line distinguishes High German from the other West Germanic languages; and the La Spezia–Rimini Line divides the Northern Italian dialects from Central Italian dialects. However, an individual isogloss may or may not have any coincidence with a language border. For example, the front-rounding of /y/ cuts across France and Germany, while the /y/ is absent from Italian and Spanish words that are cognate with the /y/-containing French words.
One of the most well-known isoglosses is the centum-satem isogloss.
Similar to an isogloss, an isograph is a distinguishing feature of a writing system. Both concepts are also used in historical linguistics.
Examples
Centum-Satem isogloss
The Centum-Satem isogloss of the Indo-European language family relates to the different evolution of the dorsal consonants of Proto-Indo-European (PIE). In the standard reconstruction, three series of dorsals are recognised:
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Why So Close
by: JamesWhy so close
Big boys in black hats
Cowboys with white guns
White guns shoot blue white
Blue white baptism
No buffaloes
No Indians
No more buffaloes
Red sky is falling
Blue blood no stalling
White heat will strip you
No time to run far
(refrain 1)
Ivan's built a wall of lead 'round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why hang the fire so close
Why so close
(refrain 2)
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hand on his gun waiting for the storm
One false move and we all fall down
No funeral games, no such fun
Here's your ticket to the party
That's what you get for playing with a gun
Six-gun so close
(refrain 1)
Ivan's got a wall of lead 'round his house
Nobody can get in or out
Running out of food for ammunition
Frightened of the darkness
Sending out scouts
(refrain 2)
Wayne's got a wall that's much more subtle
Wore headphones since he was born
Watches Ivan through dark glasses
Hands on his gun waiting for the storm
Why stand the fire so close (Why)
Why stand the fire so close (Why)
Why stand the fire so close (Why)
Why?