Linguistic evolution

How does language evolve?

Data model

In this exercise, we will use a very minimal data model of language: we will compare individual vocabulary items with similar meaning in different languages, and try to construct an evolutionary tree based on the words’ sound structure (their phonology).

Ways this model fails

• We take no account of how words change forms to express different ideas (their morphology), such as the different forms of singular and plural nouns in English.
• We take no account of how words are composed or arranged to express meaning (their syntax).

Assignment

A template Pluto notebook is available in two formats:

• as a web page (HTML file)
• as a Julia notebook (.jl filename)

You may either download the Julia notebook directly and open it in Pluto on your computer, or read the web page, and use the “Edit or run” button to download the web page as a notebook file. If you don’t remember from lab 1 how to do that, you can refer to these guides:

• running Pluto
• opening a notebook saved as a web page

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Table of contents

• Data form for Lab 3
• Historical linguistics and phonology