The Language Detectives - Shelf Life #7

What does it take to solve a mystery about an ancient Native American language group? 16th-century missionary texts, DNA sequencing methods, and lots of algorithms. Curators Peter Whiteley and Ward Wheeler discuss their project to map the evolution of Uto-Aztecan languages.
#AMNH #ShelfLife #languages #linguistics #indigenouslanguages
#UzoAztecan
For more about some of the cultures in the Uzo-Aztecan language group, head over to the episode website: www.amnh.org/sh...
Shelf Life is a collection for curious minds-opening doors, pulling out drawers, and taking the lids off some of the incredible, rarely seen items in the American Museum of Natural History. Over 12 episodes, Shelf Life will explore topics like specimen preparation, learn why variety is vital, and meet some of the people who work in the Museum collections.
For more, visit ‪www.amnh.org/Sh...
Series Trailer
• Science Collections Fo...
Episode 1: 33 Million Things
• 33 Million Things - Sh...
Episode 2: Turtles and Taxonomy
• Turtles and Taxonomy -...
Episode 3: Six Ways to Prepare a Coelacanth
• Six Ways To Prepare a ...
Episode 4: Skull of the Olinguito
• Skull of the Olinguito...
Episode 5: How To Time Travel To a Star
• How To Time Travel To ...
Episode 6: The Tiniest Fossils
• The Tiniest Fossils - ...
Episode 7: The Language Detectives
• The Language Detective...
Episode 8: Voyage of the Giant Squid
• Voyage of the Giant Sq...
Episode 9: Kinsey’s Wasps
• Kinsey's Wasps - Shelf...
Episode 10: The Dinosaurs of Ghost Ranch
• The Dinosaurs of Ghost...
Episode 11: Green Grow the Salamanders
• Green Grow the Salaman...
Episode 12: Six Extinctions In Six Minutes
• Six Extinctions In Six...
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[@z.l.burington1183]

Years ago when I was first learning about cladistics, including the parsimony approach showed in the video, I thought "wouldn't it be cool if people used these for languages". So it's really awesome that people have done that now.

[@AmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory]

NEW EPISODE! Watch Shelf Life, Episode 7: The Language Detectives
Learn more about this topic: bit.ly/1FASGR5

[@kellyorrichardweddle6220]

Very interesting video regarding advanced techniques to solve a complex problem, in this case the origin of a language. All those interested in the evolution of languages should enjoy this well-produced video.

[@kristym1193]

0:25 A butcher bird!

[@ringscircles142]

your barking up the wrong tree