Superstratum (Noun)
Meaning 1
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 Latin language became a superstratum that significantly influenced the Celtic languages spoken by the indigenous population in what is now France.
- As a result of the Norman Conquest, French became a superstratum in the English language, contributing many loanwords and altering its grammatical structure.
- The spread of English as a superstratum in post-colonial India led to the development of Indian English, which blends local languages with English.
- When the Mongols conquered China, their language became a superstratum, introducing loanwords and changing the linguistic landscape of the region.
- The Viking invasions brought a Norse superstratum to the English language, contributing words and altering the language's grammatical structure.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
Any stratum or layer superimposed on another.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The new cultural influences formed a superstratum over the existing social norms of the community.
- Geologists identified a superstratum of sedimentary rock deposited on top of the older, metamorphic layer.
- The superstratum of modern architecture in the city contrasted sharply with the historic buildings below.
- The superstratum of frost on the windowpane obscured the view of the garden outside.
- The superstratum of administrative bureaucracy hindered the efficient functioning of the organization.