Dialects of Madagascar.

摘要: All results in this paper are based upon a new dataset consisting 60 Swadesh lists of 207 items, overall 12,420 terms collected during 2018-2019. Each list corresponds to different variety Malagasy, which is not simply identified by the name ethnicity but also precise location where was collected. This very important since some traditional ethnic groups heritage historical events rather than representing communities with similar habits and dialects. far best available, both for dimension completeness. The varieties classified standard tools, as trees generated UPGMA NJ privilege genealogy detecting vertical transmissions, method privileges horizontal exchanges. two-dimensional chart Madagascar realistically reproduces geography despite being only comparison words. landing date ancestors Malagasy determined about 650 CE. result obtained straightforward approach on family tree analogous Romance languages all dates well historically attested. We propose an improved definition Diversity computed every locus places dialects were Moreover, becomes locally quantity it usually biology. differences point South-East coast first colonizers landed or, at least, variants started their dispersion. Finally, we find that dialect spoken Mikea, hunter-gatherer people South-West Madagascar, from neighbours Vezo Masikoro. Therefore, Mikea unlikely can be linked eventual aboriginal populations living prior main colonization event