A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Shedding more light on language classification using basic vocabularies and phylogenetic methods A case study of Uralic
Subtitle: A case study of Uralic
Authors: Syrjänen K, Honkola T, Korhonen K, Lehtinen J, Vesakoski O, Wahlberg N
Publisher: JOHN BENJAMINS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Publication year: 2013
Journal: Diachronica
Journal name in source: DIACHRONICA
Journal acronym: DIACHRONICA
Number in series: 3
Volume: 30
Issue: 3
First page : 323
Last page: 352
Number of pages: 30
ISSN: 0176-4225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/dia.30.3.02syr
Abstract
Encouraged by ongoing discussion of the classification of the Uralic languages, we investigate the family quantitatively using Bayesian phylogenetics and basic vocabulary from seventeen languages. To estimate the heterogeneity within this family and the robustness of its subgroupings, we analyse ten divergent sets of basic vocabulary, including basic vocabulary lists from the literature, lists that exclude borrowing-susceptible meanings, lists with varying degrees of borrowing-susceptible meanings and a list combining all of the examined items. The results show that the Uralic phylogeny has a fairly robust shape from the perspective of basic vocabulary, and is not dramatically altered by borrowing-susceptible meanings. The results differ to some extent from the `standard paradigm' classification of these languages, such as the lack of firm evidence for Finno-Permian.
Encouraged by ongoing discussion of the classification of the Uralic languages, we investigate the family quantitatively using Bayesian phylogenetics and basic vocabulary from seventeen languages. To estimate the heterogeneity within this family and the robustness of its subgroupings, we analyse ten divergent sets of basic vocabulary, including basic vocabulary lists from the literature, lists that exclude borrowing-susceptible meanings, lists with varying degrees of borrowing-susceptible meanings and a list combining all of the examined items. The results show that the Uralic phylogeny has a fairly robust shape from the perspective of basic vocabulary, and is not dramatically altered by borrowing-susceptible meanings. The results differ to some extent from the `standard paradigm' classification of these languages, such as the lack of firm evidence for Finno-Permian.
UTU Research Portal