Genetic and linguistic diversity in Central Asia
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Evelyne Heyer
Abstract
In this study, we used genetic and linguistic data that we collected in Central Asia, to better understand how genetic and linguistic diversity correlates in a contact zone. We assessed the levels of genetic differentiation with mitochondrial, Y-chromosomal and autosomal data from 26 populations (1300 individuals) from the two major linguistic groups in Central Asia: Indo-European and Altaic. We computed the linguistic distance between populations with lexical data from several individuals per population.Our results show that the genetic diversity in the area clearly clusters in two groups explained by the linguistic, one that includes the Indo-Iranian populations and the other one the Turkic populations except for Uzbek populations. Also, for two populations we have detected a shift in language that occurred likely through elite-dominance effect. Furthermore computing linguistic distances based on lexical data (Levenstein distance) we find a strong correlation between genetic distances and linguistic distances but no correlation between genetic and geographical distances.In conclusion, Central Asia is an area where linguistic but not geography correlates with genetic diversity, highlighting the importance of a cultural trait in shaping genetic diversity in our species.
Abstract
In this study, we used genetic and linguistic data that we collected in Central Asia, to better understand how genetic and linguistic diversity correlates in a contact zone. We assessed the levels of genetic differentiation with mitochondrial, Y-chromosomal and autosomal data from 26 populations (1300 individuals) from the two major linguistic groups in Central Asia: Indo-European and Altaic. We computed the linguistic distance between populations with lexical data from several individuals per population.Our results show that the genetic diversity in the area clearly clusters in two groups explained by the linguistic, one that includes the Indo-Iranian populations and the other one the Turkic populations except for Uzbek populations. Also, for two populations we have detected a shift in language that occurred likely through elite-dominance effect. Furthermore computing linguistic distances based on lexical data (Levenstein distance) we find a strong correlation between genetic distances and linguistic distances but no correlation between genetic and geographical distances.In conclusion, Central Asia is an area where linguistic but not geography correlates with genetic diversity, highlighting the importance of a cultural trait in shaping genetic diversity in our species.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Language and archaeology
- From the origin of language to the diversification of languages 13
- Early diffusion of domestic bovids in Europe 69
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Language and genes
- Linguistic, cultural and genetic perspectives on human diversity in west-central Africa 93
- The Berber and the Berbers 123
- East meets West 147
- Genetic and linguistic diversity in Central Asia 163
- Genetic and linguistic borders in the Himalayan Region 181
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Language acquisition and language universals
- From babbling to first words in four languages 205
-
Language and animal communication
- The primate roots of human language 235
-
Language evolution and computer modeling
- Can agent-based language evolution contribute to archeology? 267
- Index 287
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Language and archaeology
- From the origin of language to the diversification of languages 13
- Early diffusion of domestic bovids in Europe 69
-
Language and genes
- Linguistic, cultural and genetic perspectives on human diversity in west-central Africa 93
- The Berber and the Berbers 123
- East meets West 147
- Genetic and linguistic diversity in Central Asia 163
- Genetic and linguistic borders in the Himalayan Region 181
-
Language acquisition and language universals
- From babbling to first words in four languages 205
-
Language and animal communication
- The primate roots of human language 235
-
Language evolution and computer modeling
- Can agent-based language evolution contribute to archeology? 267
- Index 287
