Human Diversity seminar 9.8.2023, Dunn and Tresoldi

We are pleased to announce our next Humand Diversity seminar with to visitor talks from Uppsala University. At the start of the seminar professor Michael Dunn tells about the linquistic dating followed by a Tiago Tresoldi’s talk focusing on dating in Uralic language family. You are welcome to joint seminar live at the campus in project space Luoma (Arcanum) or on zoom.

10:15-11:00 by Michael Dunn
“Linguistic dating”
Professor of General Linguistics, Department of Linguistics and Philology, Uppsala University

Abstract:
The language diversity documented in the present way is the product of historical processes. Linguistic historical methods allow us to reconstruct these processes of change and infer aspects of genealogical relationships and chronology. This talk will give an introduction to two of the main methods for this currently used in linguistics: the linguistic Comparative Method, and Bayesian phylochronology.

11:15-12:00 by Tiago Tresoldi
“Computational Linguistic Dating and the Uralic Family”
Post-Doc Researcher, Department of Linguistics and Philology, Uppsala University

To join the seminar online, please send an email to humandiversity@utu.fi to request the passcode for the zoom meeting. We also ask you to sign in to the zoom meeting with your full name. You can use the link below to access zoom on the seminar day: https://utu.zoom.us/j/63607326296.

Abstract:
This presentation will explore computational linguistic dating methodologies, focusing on the Uralic language family. The introduction will shed light on distance-based approaches, such as glottochronology, the first method to statistically estimate linguistic divergence, and character-based methods, including modern Bayesian analyses. This exploration aims to elucidate the roles and applications of these techniques within the domain of “computational historical linguistic dating.” The core of the presentation will center on applying these methods to date not only the root of the Uralic family but also its branches. This seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the historical development and timeline of the family. Within this context, the presentation will detail different models used in the Bayesian approach, such as tree models, speciation models, and molecular clocks, illustrating their significance in the chronological study of the Uralic family and its subdivisions. Additionally, interdisciplinary perspectives from genetics and archaeology will be addressed as complementary tools that can work alongside linguistic dating. This synthesis underscores how these diverse fields can merge to refine and enhance the precision of dating methodologies, presenting a multifaceted perspective. The presentation will conclude with a succinct exploration of emerging trends in computational historical linguistic dating, such as the potential investigation of non-lexical data, including phonological, morphological, and grammatical data. These innovative directions mark the ongoing evolution of the field, signifying prospects for continued research and application.

More details and abstracts here.