Inferring language dispersal patterns with velocity field estimation

Reconstructing the spatial evolution of languages can deepen our understanding of demic diffusion and cultural spread. This paper introduces language velocity field estimation (LVF), a novel approach that doesn't rely on phylogenetic trees, to infer language dispersal trajectories and centers. The method's effectiveness and robustness are validated through simulations and empirical applications to four agricultural language families (Indo-European, Sino-Tibetan, Bantu, and Arawak). Results show dispersal trajectories largely consistent with population movement routes from ancient DNA and archaeological data, and dispersal centers geographically proximate to ancient agricultural homelands. This supports the hypothesis that agricultural languages dispersed alongside demic diffusions and cultural spreads over the past 10,000 years. LVF is proposed as a valuable tool for spatial analysis of language evolution and interdisciplinary studies.

Sizhe Yang, Xiaoru Sun, Li Jin, Menghan Zhang