cognate languages are those languages which:
A}Derive from a single parent language.
B}Borrow words from each other
C}Use the same alphabet
D}Are spoken in the same country
.The answer i choose is B.
There is a difference between cognate languages and cognate words. When cognate words (that are spelled the same or similarly) mean the same thing in different languages, it can be because they derive from a common parent language (e.g. Latin or old German) OR because one language adopts or "borrows" the word from another (e.g "pajamas" Persian and Hindstani, or "vodka" from Russian). Many words are now borrowed from English into other languages
When one speaks of languages as being cognate or "sister" languages, it is because they derive from a single parent language. Answer A is the correct one in this case.
The correct answer is A) Derive from a single parent language.
To arrive at this answer, we can analyze the options provided:
A) Derive from a single parent language: This option refers to the concept of cognate languages, where languages have a shared ancestry and can be traced back to a common root language.
B) Borrow words from each other: While cognate languages may indeed borrow words from each other, this concept is not unique to cognate languages. Borrowing of words can occur between languages that have no historical connection as well.
C) Use the same alphabet: The use of the same alphabet is not a defining characteristic of cognate languages. Languages with different alphabets can still share common traits and have a common origin.
D) Are spoken in the same country: Cognate languages are not necessarily limited to being spoken in the same country. They can be spoken across various countries and regions.
Therefore, based on the given options, the most accurate description of cognate languages is that they derive from a single parent language (option A).