Re: [cybalist] Example: Burushaski, a dialect or language?

[Found this in my unsent box. Please pardon if you've already received
it]

John Croft wrote:

>
> Gerry, Glottochronology gives the following table
>
> % of divergence between Minimum no. of centuries
> any two languages since divergence occurred
>
> 100 0
> 90 3.5
> 80 7.4
> 70 11.8
> 60 16.9
> 50 22.9
> 40 30.3
> 30 39.9
> 20 56.6
> 10 102.6
> 1 225.0
>
> Thus by knowing the difference in similarity you can read out a
> minimum time of divergence. Since Amerindians have been living in
> North America between 120-150 centuries, we are looking at Burushaski
> having between 1-10% common vocabulary. This would rate as a
> difference in language, Gerry, not a difference in dialect.
>
> Nostratic is dealing with such long horizons. It is what makes the
> field so contentious.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Regards

Thanks John for the Glottochronology chart. Now if Amerindians have
been living in North America longer than 150 centuries ago (which I
reasonably suspect they might) then we are looking at a similarity of
0-1% in vocabulary. That's almost a meaningless number, yet it's a
number nevertheless. So, rather than a phonetic examination of
commonality, we need to see alternate methods. For starters, I'd go
with DNA evidence.

Best wishes,
Gerry