Discussion Details
| Title: | Dixon's model of punctuated equilibrium |
| Submitter: | Marinus Van der Sluijs |
| Description: | R. M. W. Dixon's 'The rise and fall of languages' (Cambridge University
Press, 1997) has aroused much interest and justly so. In this concise volume Dixon applies the biological model of punctuated equilibrium to the theory of language evolution. The core of his argument is that languages do not evolve gradually at a uniform rate, but alternately experience long periods of equilibrium, punctuated by brief episodes of drastic change. During phases of punctuation, languages diverge, differentiating into groups that can be modelled as family trees; during phases of equilibrium, languages in contact converge, obfuscating their genetic relationships as modelled in family trees. Dixon's discussion offers much food for thought, but I believe his model is fundamentally flawed. In terms of Dixon's model, the global community is currently in a period of punctuation, as rapid changes in communication take place and the English language spreads its influence abroad. Dixon also claims that in times of punctuation, languages split into family trees. This is at odds with the observation that languages are seen to converge now, rather than to diverge: in many parts of the world where English is spoken in a bilingual context, local languages assimilate themselves to English, sometimes modifying the English language itself to the effect that creoles or pidgins are produced. From the perspective of the diffusion of English, then, we seem to be looking at a period of punctuation, but from the perspective of the ongoing fusion between English and local languages the state of equilibrium would be a more apposite description. Clearly, something is not quite right with the model. In my view, one has to acknowledge that a language can be in states of 'equilibrium' and 'punctuation' at once, depending on the context in which its evolution is placed. Convergence to neighbouring and unrelated languages by definition means divergence from genetically related languages if a language is diffused into a new territory. When the speakers of Proto-Indo-European dispersed towards their historical homelands, they all carried a form of Proto-Indo-European with them. Subsequent centuries saw an increasing diversification within Proto-Indo-European, ultimately leading to the formation of the daughter languages. This happened for the most part under the influence of local 'substrate' languages that were being absorbed into the Indo-European satellite communities. Thus, Proto-Greeks modified their form of Proto-Indo-European under the influence of the indigenous people in Greece, whilst Proto-Celts adjusted it under the influence of the native population in their own area. In terms of Dixon's model, no one would hesitate to qualify the differentiation of Proto-Indo-European as a process of punctuation, in which a 'family tree' was produced in a relatively short time. But that is not the whole story. Zooming in on each particular homeland, a state of equilibrium is initiated as soon as the speakers of Proto-Indo-European arrive: in this state the respective substrate languages gradually merge with Proto-Indo-European, undoubtedly going through a phase in which a Sprachbund is formed, followed by the complete absorption of the local languages into Indo-European. Chronologically, convergence and divergence happen at the same time: the further local forms of Proto-Indo-European are adapted to local languages, the more diversified the Proto-Indo-European language becomes. Exactly the same can be argued for the formation of Romance languages from Latin. In situations like these, 'punctuation' and 'equilibrium' cannot be described as sequential phases of development, but have to be seen as synchronous phenomena, different perspectives on the same development. Marinus van der Sluijs Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada |
| Date Posted: | 31-Mar-2005 |
| Linguistic Field(s): |
General Linguistics
Historical Linguistics Language Documentation Linguistic Theories Philosophy of Language Anthropological Linguistics Genetic Classification Discipline of Linguistics |
| Language Specialty: | None |
| LL Issue: | 16.970 |
| Posted: | 31-Mar-2005 |
