The evolution of ethnolinguistic diversity

Advances in Complex Systems • Vol/Iss. 15(01n02) • World Scientific Publishing Company • • Published In • Pages: 1-20 •
By Currie, Thomas E., Mace, Ruth

Hypothesis

Association between geographic language area and various environmental variables will be stronger among pastoralists and foragers than among agriculturalists (7).

Note

Environmental variables include absolute latitude, net primary productivity, mean growing season, mean annual precipitation, and mean annual temperature. With the exception of the relationship between mean annual temperature and language area among pastoralists, foragers and pastoralists experienced higher correlations between language area and all variables than did agriculturalists.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Multiple regressionSupportedp < 0.05UNKNOWNUNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Absolute LatitudeIndependentLocation
Mean Annual RainfallIndependentClimate
Mean Annual Temperature (mat)IndependentClimate
Net Primary ProductivityIndependentFlora
Language areaDependentLinguistic Identification, Location
Mean Growing SeasonIndependentClimate, Flora