Darwin-L Message Log 5:106 (January 1994)

Academic Discussion on the History and Theory of the Historical Sciences

This is one message from the Archives of Darwin-L (1993–1997), a professional discussion group on the history and theory of the historical sciences.

Note: Additional publications on evolution and the historical sciences by the Darwin-L list owner are available on SSRN.

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<5:106>From HOLSINGE@UCONNVM.BITNET  Wed Jan 19 07:29:48 1994

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 1994 08:27:20 -0500 (EST)
From: "Kent E. Holsinger" <HOLSINGE%UCONNVM.BITNET@KU9000.CC.UKANS.EDU>
Subject: Re: Systematics and linguistics
To: darwin-l@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu

Tom Cravens asked for a definition of reticulate.  Since I introduced the
term, let me define it.

Biologists talk about evolution being reticulate when it is not treelike, i.e.,
when the relationships among groups do not represent single lines of descent
but multiple lines of descent.  In biological evolution it reflects
hybridization (or sexual reproduction within a population).  I was using it,
perhaps incorrectly, to describe the analogous situation in language evolution
when there is extensive borrowing.

-- Kent

+--------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Kent E. Holsinger            Internet: Holsinge@UConnVM.UConn.edu |
|  Dept. of Ecology &           BITNET:   Holsinge@UConnVM           |
|    Evolutionary Biology, U-43                                      |
|  University of Connecticut                                         |
|  Storrs, CT   06269-3043                                           |
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