多合成的宏观进化分析表明,语言复杂性更有可能在小的,孤立的群体中演变
Lindell Bromham1, Keaghan Yaxley1, Oscar Wilson1
1Macroevolution and Macroecology, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
概括
小的,孤立的人类语言可以发展复杂的形态,像多合成,随着时间的推移. 语言接触往往导致这种复杂性丧失,特别是在危语言中.
科学领域:
- 语言学的语言学.
- 进化生物学 进化生物学
- 人类学是人类学.
背景情况:
- 人类语言的复杂性演变是持续辩论的主题.
- 一个关键假设表明,复杂性在小,孤立的群体中增加,但随着语言接触而减少.
研究的目的:
- 研究形态复杂性,人口规模,语言隔离和语言接触之间的关系.
- 测试特定形式的复杂性,如多合成,是否在孤立和旧语言中更为普遍.
主要方法:
- 汇集了多合成语言的全球数据库.
- 进行了语言空间分析,以检查语言特征.
主要成果:
- 高形态复杂度 (多合成) 的语言与较小的人口规模有关.
- 这些复杂的语言不太可能与许多其他语言接触.
- 多合成语言更常见于长,孤立的进化系.
结论:
- 研究结果支持这样一个假设:在长期孤立演变的语言中,形态复杂性会增加.
- 多合成语言表现出更高的危率,这表明语言接触时的复杂性会消失.
- 遗传学上有证据表明,隔离与复杂形态的发展之间存在联系.
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