Don Ringe

Don Ringe is an American linguist and philologist specializing in Indo-European languages and historical linguistics. He is currently a professor of linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ringe is known for his rigorous application of the comparative method in historical linguistics, particularly in the reconstruction of Proto-Indo-European. His work often emphasizes the importance of quantitative methods and statistical analysis in determining the most likely reconstructions of ancestral languages. He has published extensively on topics such as the development of the Indo-European vowel system, the laryngeal theory, and the reconstruction of Proto-Germanic.

A key contribution of Ringe's work is his emphasis on the importance of shared innovations in determining the relationships between languages. He argues that only shared innovations, rather than shared retentions, can provide reliable evidence for a common ancestor. This approach has been influential in shaping the field of Indo-European studies and historical linguistics more broadly.

Ringe has authored and co-authored several influential books, including "From Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Germanic" and "The Linguistic Development of Old English." He is a highly respected figure in the field, known for his meticulous scholarship and his contributions to our understanding of the history and relationships of the Indo-European languages.