1467-968X/asset/TRPS_left.gif?v=1&s=15d9e13f2d12b933569722e37dce715f19578740)
1467-968X/asset/TRPS_right.gif?v=1&s=3fbf5fe4ab30a37cf388608850965a6536ea016e)
From words to dates: water into wine, mathemagic or phylogenetic inference?
Article first published online: 13 JUL 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-968X.2005.00151.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Atkinson, Q., Nicholls, G., Welch, D. and Gray, R. (2005), From words to dates: water into wine, mathemagic or phylogenetic inference?. Transactions of the Philological Society, 103: 193–219. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-968X.2005.00151.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 13 JUL 2005
- Article first published online: 13 JUL 2005
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
Gray & Atkinson's (2003) application of quantitative phylogenetic methods to Dyen, Kruskal & Black's (1992) Indo-European database produced controversial divergence time estimates. Here we test the robustness of these results using an alternative data set of ancient Indo-European languages. We employ two very different stochastic models of lexical evolution – Gray & Atkinson's (2003) finite-sites model and a stochastic-Dollo model of word evolution introduced by Nicholls & Gray (in press). Results of this analysis support the findings of Gray & Atkinson (2003). We also tested the ability of both methods to reconstruct phylogeny and divergence times accurately from synthetic data. The methods performed well under a range of scenarios, including widespread and localized borrowing.