areal and genetic groupings

I just wanted to get this straight. Does an areal grouping strictly
refer to a grouping of IE languages with geographical proximity to one
another and nothing else? Or are they IE languages that have more
linguistic features in common with one another than to any other IE
languages, but with no direct genetic link?

In other words, by saying that Balto-Slavic does not form a genetic
grouping with Germanic means that there was never an IE branch
Balto-Slavo-Germanic that then split into Germanic and Baltic and Slavic,
but that as an areal grouping Germanic could be grouped with Baltic and
Slavic because it has more linguistic features in common with Baltic and
Slavic than other IE languages? Or would the areal grouping be because
of the close geographical relationship and exchange of loan words, etc.?

Basically, what's the best way to define an areal and a genetic grouping?

Would love to be clear on this.

Oh yeah, and does Hellenic, Armenian, Phrygian, Thracian and Indo-Iranian
form a valid genetic grouping (once in a prehistoric time?), or do any of
these languages share a genetic link with one another?
Adeus,
Michael

________________________________________________________________
Sign Up for Juno Platinum Internet Access Today
Only $9.95 per month!
Visit www.juno.com