Statistical Measurement of Linguistic Relationship
Alvar Ellegård · Language · 1959
[Linguistic relationship has been measured statistically by means of the product-moment correlation coefficient, r. The linguistic meaning of various forms of this coefficient is discussed on the basis of a simplified model. It is maintained that the most satisfactory statistic measures degree of correspondence or similarity rather than relationship in the genetic sense. When applied to Indo-European data, the statistic yields results in good agreement with common philological judgment. Problems of significance are discussed. Finally it is concluded that the statistical technique will both require and help to establish a taxonomy of languages.]