Help
7039 Article Views
Publication Date: 03 Nov 2008
Journal: Evolutionary Bioinformatics
Phylogenetic methods have revolutionised evolutionary biology and have recently been applied to studies of linguistic and cultural evolution. However, the basic comparative data on the languages of the world required for these analyses is often widely dispersed in hard to obtain sources. Here we outline how our Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database (ABVD) helps remedy this situation by collating wordlists from over 500 languages into one web-accessible database. We describe the technology underlying the ABVD and discuss the benefits that an evolutionary bioinformatic approach can provide. These include facilitating computational comparative linguistic research, answering questions about human prehistory, enabling syntheses with genetic data, and safe-guarding fragile linguistic information.
Discussion 
No comments yet...Be the first to comment.
CONNOTEA 
CITEULIKE 
FACEBOOK 
LINKED IN
Recently we published a paper describing cloning of a new kinase gene, MLK4, in Genomics Insights. I was impressed by the prompt processing and speed of publication. The comments from the reviewers allowed me to improve the paper significantly. The reviews were scientifically deep and objective, which is very valuable because in many journals decisions to publish or not to publish are very unfair and subjective. I highly recommend that other researchers publish their papers in Genomics Insights.Dr Eugene R. Zabarovsky (Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden) What Your Colleagues Say
Copyright © 2012 Libertas Academica Ltd (except open access articles and accompanying metadata and supplementary files.)
FacebookGoogle+Twitter
PinterestTumblrYouTube