Bayesian Inference

Phylogenetic inference from cognate word forms

Linguistic phylogenies are commonly inferred from abstract cognate classifications that encode relationships among lexemes. Although widespread, this practice has well-recognized limitations: it discards the phylogenetic signal contained in segmental …

Bayesian phylogenetic methods overcome limitations of traditional subgrouping

Traditional subgrouping has long been a cornerstone of historical linguistics. In recent decades, however, Bayesian methods have played an increasing role in linguistic phylogenetics, which has prompted debate about the relationship between the two …

An event-based model for linguistic phylogenetics

Linguistic phylogenies are standardly inferred from lexical cognate relationships (e.g., Bouckaert et al. 2012, Chang et al. 2015, Sagart et al. 2019). Despite the prevalence of this practice, it suffers from well-known drawbacks. First, it …

Diachronica at 40

Divergence-time estimation in Indo-European: The case of Latin

Divergence-time estimation is one of the most important endeavors in historical linguistics. Its importance is matched only by its difficulty. As Bayesian methods of divergence-time estimation have become more common over the past two decades, a …

Linguistic phylogenetics

Spring 2024

From phonology to phylogeny

Linguistic phylogenies are typically inferred on the basis of lexical cognate relationships (e.g.,Bouckaert et al. 2012, Chang et al. 2015, Sagart et al. 2019). Despite the predominance of thispractice, it suffers from well-known drawbacks. First, it …

A new approach to the diversification of ancient Greek

The diversification of the ancient Greek dialects remains one of the most recalcitrant problems in Greek linguistics. Debates persist over a number of fundamental issues, including the methodology of historical inference, the divergence times of the …

Fossilized birth-death models and the diversification of Latin

Divergence-time estimation in Indo-European