Do Languages and Genes Correlate?

Abstract

This paper examines aspects of how linguistics and human genetics can collaborate in the investigation of human prehistory. Matters that need more careful attention for linguistic-genetic correlations to have value are emphasized. Some ways to make collaboration between geneticists and linguists more productive are considered, while some misconceptions frequently encountered in work which correlates languages and genes are clarified. In particular, the questions posed by Comrie (2006) in his position paper on language and genes are addressed.