Superstrate (Noun)
Meaning 1
Any stratum or layer superimposed on another.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The sedimentary rock formation showed a clear superstrate of limestone overlaying the older shale deposits.
- In geology, a superstrate can be a layer of soil or rock that has been deposited on top of a pre-existing layer.
- The city's planners carefully considered the superstrate of infrastructure that would be needed to support the new high-rise development.
- The archaeologists carefully excavated the site, revealing a superstrate of Roman ruins overlaying the earlier Celtic settlement.
- The concept of a superstrate is also used in linguistics to describe a language that has been imposed on top of an existing language or dialect.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
The language of a later invading people that is imposed on an indigenous population and contributes features to their language.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The Norman Conquest of England introduced French as a superstrate that significantly influenced the English language.
- The language of the Inca Empire was influenced by the superstrate of Spanish after the conquest by the Spanish Empire.
- The superstrate of Arabic had a profound impact on the Berber languages spoken in North Africa.
- The language of the indigenous people of Hawaii was affected by the superstrate of English after the islands were annexed by the United States.
- The superstrate of Russian has contributed many loanwords to the languages spoken in the Caucasus region.