Newsgroups: sci.lang
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From: dmark@acsu.buffalo.edu (David Mark)
Subject: Re: Language and Genes
Message-ID: <Czwq91.4Iw@acsu.buffalo.edu>
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References: <583@percep.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 27 Nov 1994 03:41:25 GMT
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In article <583@percep.demon.co.uk>,
rmallott <rmallott@percep.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>Cavalii-Sforza et al. ask:
>
>"The central question is Why should there be any congruence between 
>genetic and linguistic evolution?"
>
>Any answers?

Sure.  In sexually-reproducing animals such as mammals and birds, most
evolutionary biologists believe that geographical isolation of populations
is needed for speciation, and would enhance the chance of genetic divergence.
To put it the other way, gene flow tends to even out genetic differeneces
that might arise from adaptation to different conditions.  When gene flow
is cut, often by geographic isolation, then genotypes can and normally will
diverge.  I think it is reasonable to assume that geographical variation in 
human genotypes would also arise from such isolations.  But isolation 
(separation) of human populations would also increase the chance that their
languages would diverge.  Once language became common in humans, it seems
likely that neighboring populations would be at least as likely to
comminicate through common language, as they are to exchange genetic 
material.  So, again, geographic barriers would enhance linguistic
divergence as well.  Since the same series of isolations would promote
linguistic and genetic divergence, it seems very likely that there would
be the sort of congruence noted by Cavalii-Sforza et al.

David Mark
dmark@sun.acsu.buffalo.edu

