A5076786881- Language and cultural evolution
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Natural Language Processing Techniques
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Linguistics and language evolution
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Linguistics and Cultural Studies
- Plant and animal studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Evolution and Science Education
- Advanced Computational Techniques and Applications
- Culture, Economy, and Development Studies
- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Power Systems and Technologies
University of Auckland
2015-2024
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
2020-2024
David Grant USAF Medical Center
2024
Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History
2010-2023
The University of Texas at Austin
2022-2023
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2022-2023
University of Colorado System
2022-2023
University of Colorado Boulder
2022-2023
Macquarie University
2022-2023
Max Planck Society
1998-2023
L'A. explique ce que sont les «systemes de developpement» en genetique, depassant le dualisme inne-acquis et ce, pour expliquer developpement d'une personne
Debates about human prehistory often center on the role that population expansions play in shaping biological and cultural diversity. Hypotheses origin of Austronesian settlers Pacific are divided between a recent "pulse-pause" expansion from Taiwan an older "slow-boat" diffusion Wallacea. We used lexical data Bayesian phylogenetic methods to construct phylogeny 400 languages. In agreement with pulse-pause scenario, language trees place approximately 5230 years ago reveal series settlement...
A Family of Languages English is part the large Indo-European language family, which includes Celtic, Germanic, Italic, Balto-Slavic, and Indo-Iranian languages. The origin this family hotly debated: one hypothesis places north Caspian Sea in Pontic steppes, from where it was disseminated by Kurgan semi-nomadic pastoralists; a second suggests that Anatolia, modern-day Turkey, source, radiated with spread agriculture. Bouckaert et al. (p. 957 ) used phylogenetic methods modeling to assess...
Opinions differ on the empirical success of Ideal Free Distribution. The model predicts that distribution organisms between resource sites should match resources. Many studies report support for this prediction. We review tests utilising a method analysis derived from psychological principle called matching law. Our reanalysis revealed is consistently less extreme than This systematic deviation Distribution means underuse richer and overuse poorer sites. examine how deviations may arise as...
Many human languages have words for emotions such as "anger" and "fear," yet it is not clear whether these similar meanings across languages, or why their might vary. We estimate emotion semantics a sample of 2474 spoken using "colexification"-a phenomenon in which name semantically related concepts with the same word. Analyses show significant variation networks concept colexification, predicted by geographic proximity language families. also find evidence universal structure colexification...
In this paper we outline two debates about the nature of human cultural history. The first focuses on extent to which history is tree-like (its shape), and second unity that fabric). Proponents phylogenetics are often accused assuming has been both highly consisting tightly linked lineages. Critics have pointed out obvious exceptions these assumptions. Instead a priori dichotomous disputes validity phylogenetics, suggest debate better conceptualized as involving positions along continuous...
Supernatural belief presents an explanatory challenge to evolutionary theorists-it is both costly and prevalent. One influential functional explanation claims that the imagined threat of supernatural punishment can suppress selfishness enhance cooperation. Specifically, morally concerned supreme deities or 'moralizing high gods' have been argued reduce free-riding in large social groups, enabling believers build kind complex societies define modern humanity. Previous cross-cultural studies...
Phylogenetic methods have recently been applied to studies of cultural evolution. However, it has claimed that the large amount horizontal transmission sometimes occurs between groups invalidates use these methods. Here, we a natural model linguistic evolution simulate borrowing languages. The results show tree topologies constructed with Bayesian phylogenetic are robust realistic levels borrowing. Inferences about divergence dates slightly less and tendency underestimate dates. Our...
From the foods we eat and houses construct, to our religious practices political organization, who can marry types of games teach children, diversity cultural in world is astounding. Yet, ability visualize understand this limited by ways it has been documented shared: on a culture-by-culture basis, locally-told stories or difficult-to-access repositories. In paper introduce D-PLACE, Database Places, Language, Culture, Environment. This expandable open-access database (accessible at...
Significance Here we show that the spatial prevalence of human societies believe in moralizing high gods can be predicted with a level accuracy (91%) from historical, social, and ecological data. Using high-resolution datasets, systematically estimate relative effects resource abundance, risk, cultural diffusion, shared ancestry, political complexity on global distribution beliefs gods. The methods presented this paper provide blueprint for how to leverage increasing wealth ecological,...
The origins of the Indo-European language family are hotly disputed. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses core vocabulary have produced conflicting results, with some supporting a farming expansion out Anatolia ~9000 years before present (yr B.P.), while others support spread horse-based pastoralism Pontic-Caspian Steppe ~6000 yr B.P. Here we an extensive database that eliminates past inconsistencies in cognate coding. Ancestry-enabled analysis this dataset indicates few ancient languages direct...
Many animals use tools but only humans are generally considered to have the cognitive sophistication required for cumulative technological evolution. Three important characteristics of evolution are: (i) diversification tool design; (ii) change; and (iii) high–fidelity social transmission. We present evidence that crows diversified cumulatively changed design their pandanus tools. In 2000 we carried out an intensive survey in New Caledonia establish geographical variation manufacture these...
Phylogenetic methods have revolutionised evolutionary biology and recently been applied to studies of linguistic cultural evolution. However, the basic comparative data on languages world required for these analyses is often widely dispersed in hard obtain sources. Here we outline how our Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database (ABVD) helps remedy this situation by collating wordlists from over 500 into one web-accessible database. We describe technology underlying ABVD discuss benefits that...
The relative timing and size of regional human population growth following our expansion from Africa remain unknown. Human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity carries a legacy history. Given set sequences, we can use coalescent theory to estimate past through time draw inferences about However, recent work has challenged the validity using mtDNA infer species sizes. Here Bayesian inference methods, together with global data 357 coding-region sizes across 8 major geographic regions. Our...
In The Descent of Man (1871), Darwin observed "curious parallels" between the processes biological and linguistic evolution. These parallels mean that evolutionary biologists historical linguists seek answers to similar questions face problems. As a result, theory methodology two disciplines have evolved in remarkably ways. addition Darwin's curious process, there are number equally connections development methods biology linguistics. Here we briefly review evolution contrast phylogenetic...
The extent to which animals other than humans can reason about physical problems is contentious. benchmark test for this ability has been the trap-tube task. We presented New Caledonian crows with a series of two-trap versions problem. Three out six solved initial trap-tube. These continued avoid trap when arbitrary features that had previously associated successful performances were removed. However, they did not hole and functional in tube. In contrast recent primate study, three then...
The 'crafting' of tools involves (i) selection appropriate raw material, (ii) preparatory trimming and (iii) fine, three–dimensional sculpting. Its evolution is technologically important because it allows the open–ended development tools. New Caledonian crows manufacture an impressive range stick leaf We previously reported that their toolkit included hooked implements made from leafy twigs, although had never been closely observed. describe 10 hooked–twig by adult crow its dependent...