Drivers of geographical patterns of North American language diversity

Proceedings Royal Society B Vol/Iss. 286(1899) Royal society publishing Published In Pages: 1-8
By Coelho, Marco Túlio Pacheco, Pereira, Elisa Barreto, Haynie, Hannah J., Rangel, Thiago F., Kavanagh, Patrick, Kirby, Kathryn R. , Greenhill, Simon J. , Bowern, Claire, Gray, Russell D. , Colwell, Robert K., Evans, Nicholas, Gavin, Michael C.

Hypothesis

A larger number of individuals (greater population density) is positively correlated with a greater accumulation of languages (greater language diversity) (3).

Note

Analyses were completed with both a Stationary Path Analysis and GWPath model. The numbers reported below correspond to the two models respectively.

Test

Test NameSupportSignificanceCoefficientTail
Path analysesSupportedUNKNOWNbeta = 0.44; beta = .09 +- 0.63UNKNOWN

Variables

Variable NameVariable Type OCM Term(s)
Population DensityIndependent Population
Language diversity Dependent Language