𝓔𝓿𝓸𝕃𝕖𝕩 is a series of online comparative dictionaries in different language families.

It was created in 2025 by Alexandre François & Mathieu Dehouck (CNRS—LaTTiCe),
as a companion to their other project 𝓔𝓿𝓸Sem – the database of polysemous cognate sets across the world.

Each 𝓔𝓿𝓸𝕃𝕖𝕩 dictionary serves a double function:

• It constitutes an online comparative dictionary centered on a particular family, written by recognized experts in the field. Whether the dataset was already published elsewhere or is a brand new publication, it can be used as a reference for historical linguists of the target family and area.
• The data compiled here can feed into our 𝓔𝓿𝓸Sem database, which compares semantic paths of evolution across a large number of language families.

There are currently two dictionaries in our 𝓔𝓿𝓸𝕃𝕖𝕩 series:

1. A comparative dictionary of Khoe-Kwadi languages
   by Anne Maria Fehn & Anna Smirnitskaya
2. A comparative dictionary of Mande languages
   by Valentin Vydrin.

Besides these first two dictionaries, we are currently developing dictionaries for other language families: in particular, Pama-Nyungan (Australia) and several families of the Americas.

An EvoLex dictionary consists at least of two page types:

• an index of etyma as reconstructed for certain protolanguages [example]
• and, (if you click on one of the “etyma” on that list)
  a detailed entry displaying the entire cognate set under that etymon [example]

For detailed explanations about the structure of such entries, see the introduction to the Khoe-Kwadi dictionary.

 

For any question you may have about this project, you can write to alexandre.francois@ens.psl.eu.

We are especially welcoming proposals by historical linguists who would like their etymological datasets to be published with us (in open access, free of charge for authors and readers).