Grambank reveals the importance of genealogical constraints on linguistic diversity and highlights the impact of language loss. Journal Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • While global patterns of human genetic diversity are increasingly well characterized, the diversity of human languages remains less systematically described. Here, we outline the Grambank database. With over 400,000 data points and 2400 languages, Grambank is the largest comparative grammatical database available. The comprehensiveness of Grambank allows us to quantify the relative effects of genealogical inheritance and geographic proximity on the structural diversity of the world's languages, evaluate constraints on linguistic diversity, and identify the world's most unusual languages. An analysis of the consequences of language loss reveals that the reduction in diversity will be strikingly uneven across the major linguistic regions of the world. Without sustained efforts to document and revitalize endangered languages, our linguistic window into human history, cognition, and culture will be seriously fragmented.

publication date

  • April 21, 2023

has restriction

  • gold

Date in CU Experts

  • August 30, 2023 1:03 AM

Full Author List

  • SkirgĂ„rd H; Haynie HJ; Blasi DE; Hammarström H; Collins J; Latarche JJ; Lesage J; Weber T; Witzlack-Makarevich A; Passmore S

author count

  • 105

Other Profiles

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 2375-2548

Additional Document Info

start page

  • eadg6175

volume

  • 9

issue

  • 16