What is the areal model in linguistics?

The areal model, also known as the geographical diffusion or contact linguistics, is an approach in linguistics that focuses on the exchange of linguistic features between neighboring languages or language groups within a specific geographical area. Unlike the tree model, which emphasizes historical relationships, the areal model is concerned with the impact of spatial proximity on language structure, vocabulary, and other linguistic elements. This model helps explain similarities between languages that may not share a common ancestry but have been influenced by contact over time.