Russell Gray: Difference between revisions
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'''Abstract''' | '''Abstract''' | ||
In this talk I will explore the pleasures and perils of making two assumptions about lexical evolution. The first is that the evolution is treelike and the second is that simple models of cognate gain and loss are appropriate. I will argue that the perils of model misspecification are often overstated and the benefits of these simplifying assumptions outweigh the costs. | |||
Latest revision as of 19:25, 11 February 2008
On the pleasures and perils of simplicity
Abstract In this talk I will explore the pleasures and perils of making two assumptions about lexical evolution. The first is that the evolution is treelike and the second is that simple models of cognate gain and loss are appropriate. I will argue that the perils of model misspecification are often overstated and the benefits of these simplifying assumptions outweigh the costs.