This paper employs a quantitative analysis of lexical data to generate a tree describing the historical relationships among Iroquoian languages. An alternative to glottochronology is used to estimate the timing of branching events within the tree. We estimate the homeland of the language family using lexical and geographic distance measures and then compare this estimate with homeland determinations in the literature. Our results suggest that Proto-Iroquoian dates to around 2624 bc, and that the Finger Lakes region of west-central New York is the most likely homeland. The results also revealed a strong relationship between linguistic dissimilarity and geographic distance, likely reflecting the isolating effects of spatial separation on the magnitude of linguistic exchange. The timing of language divergences seems to coincide with important events observable in the archaeological record, including the first evidence for the use of corn in New York and Ontario. The development of important Iroquoian cultural attributes such as the longhouse, matrilocal residence, and the intensification of agriculture all coincide with a period which saw most of the internal language divergences.

中文翻译：

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易洛魁史前史的语言线索

本文采用词汇数据的定量分析来生成描述易洛魁语言之间历史关系的树。使用声门年代学的替代方法来估计树内分支事件的时间。我们使用词汇和地理距离度量来估计语言家族的家乡，然后将此估计与文献中的家乡确定进行比较。我们的研究结果表明，原始易洛魁语可以追溯到公元前 2624 年左右，纽约中西部的手指湖地区是最有可能的家园。结果还揭示了语言差异与地理距离之间的密切关系，这可能反映了空间分离对语言交流程度的孤立影响。语言分歧的时间似乎与考古记录中可观察到的重要事件相吻合，包括在纽约和安大略使用玉米的第一个证据。重要的易洛魁人文化属性的发展，如长屋、母系居所和农业的集约化，都恰逢发生了大部分内部语言分歧的时期。