Geographical distribution of phonological complexity

Abstract

Atkinson’s intriguing article in Science suggests that there is a signal to be found in the global distribution of the richness of phonological contrasts across a large sample of languages which reflects the process of the spread of anatomically modern humans across the habitable areas of our planet from an origin in Africa. In our commentary we will focus on three principal issues. The first has to do with what the signal is based on and whether it seems to be reliable. The second has to do with whether the concept of a serial founder effect is a persuasive explanation for the global patterns found. The third has to do with considering whether there are alternative explanations which might account for the patterns found.1