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Linguistic phylogenies support back-migration from Beringia to Asia
1Department of Linguistics, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Plos One
|March 14, 2014
Summary
Phylogenetic analysis suggests the Na-Dene and Yeniseian language link originated in Beringia, not Asia. This indicates a Beringian ancestral population radiating outwards, with Yeniseian languages representing a back-migration to Asia.
Area of Science:
- Linguistics
- Population Genetics
- Archaeology
Background:
- The Na-Dene languages of North America and Yeniseian languages of Siberia share proposed linguistic connections.
- These connections have been cited to support theories of Native American origins in central or western Asia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin of the proposed Dene-Yeniseian linguistic connection.
- To test two competing hypotheses: migration from Asia versus radiation from Beringia.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic methods were applied to a coded linguistic dataset of typological features.
- Neighbor-joining network algorithms and Bayesian model comparison using Bayes factors were employed.
Main Results:
- The study's results provide stronger support for a Beringian origin of the Dene-Yeniseian connection.
- Evidence suggests radiation from Beringia with a subsequent back-migration into Asia.
Conclusions:
- The linguistic link between Na-Dene and Yeniseian languages is more consistent with an origin in Beringia.
- This challenges the hypothesis of Native American origins solely from central or western Asia, proposing a Beringian ancestral population.
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