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Cited by 4Linguistics and language evolutionLanguage and cultural evolutionHistorical Linguistics and Language Studies

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Cognate reflex prediction as hypothesis test for a genealogical relation between the Panoan and Takanan language families

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Blum, Frederic, Barrientos, Carlos, Ingunza, Adriano, List, Johann-Mattis·2024·Scientific Reports
DOI 10.1038/s41598-024-82515-3PMC PMC11668889
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Abstract

We present a novel approach for testing genealogical relations between language families. Our method, which has previously only been applied to closely related languages, makes predictions for cognate reflexes based on the regularity of proposed sound correspondences between language families that are hypothesized to be related. We test the hypothesis about a genealogical relation between Panoan and Takanan, two linguistic families of the Amazon. The workflow contributes to new ideas of hypothesis testing in historical linguistics and can likely be transferred to other language families. We predict 206 cognate reflexes from Shipibo-Konibo, a Panoan language, from independently proposed Proto-Takanan reconstructions and test our predictions in elicitation sessions with speakers of the language. We found 21 correct predictions from the core-set, as well as another 20 correct predictions from the extended set of predictions. In addition to confirming the previously established sound correspondence patterns, we find further evidence for additional patterns that suggest the reconstruction of three new phonemes for Proto-Pano-Takanan. Protocol registration: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 06/05/24. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/FGBM7 .

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Figure 1 Workflow for predicting the cognate reflexes of Proto-Takanan forms in Shipibo-Konibo. The predictions are based on the reconstructions provided in the literature9,15. Grey boxes indicate the source for the sound correspondences used for making the predictions. The colored boxes in the center of the plot indicate the language families.
Figure 1 Workflow for predicting the cognate reflexes of Proto-Takanan forms in Shipibo-Konibo. The predictions are based on the reconstructions provided in the literature9,15. Grey boxes indicate the source for the sound correspondences used for making the predictions. The colored boxes in the center of the plot indicate the language families.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Blum, F., Barrientos, C., Ingunza, A., & List, J.-M.
Affiliations
  • University of Passau (DE)
  • Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
  • Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PE)
Corresponding author
Blum, Frederic
ORCID
Venue
Scientific Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-12-24
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
30636-30636
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41598-024-82515-3
PMC
PMC11668889
OpenAlex
W4405734125
Cited by
4
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3
FWCI
6.27
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Linguistics and language evolution
  • Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Historical Linguistics and Language Studies
Keywords
Panoan languages, Shipibo-Konibo, sound correspondences, language family classification, historical phonology, Amazonian languages
MeSH terms
Female, Humans, Language, Linguistics, Male

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Blum, F., Barrientos, C., Ingunza, A., & List, J.-M. (2024). Cognate reflex prediction as hypothesis test for a genealogical relation between the Panoan and Takanan language families. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82515-3