Linguistically Inclined

     I was going to call myself the amateur scholar, but that name was already taken. So I came up with "Linguistically Inclined", as it basically sums up what my work will be. Though I won't just touch on linguistics, but also history, archaeology, anthropology, and even current events at times. 

     Anyway....

     I wanted to start with an observation that I've made. If you look at a map of the world's language families, you'll notice something quite striking and odd. In fact, at first, it doesn't even make any sense. 

     As we all now now, humans left Africa 70,000 years ago, and spread acrossed the globe eastward, until we basically covered all continents except Antartica. Now, if you look at how many language families are represented on each continent, you'll find the opposite of the expected results. Places like South America appear more linguistically diverse than Asia, and Asia more linguistically diverse than Africa:

Central and South America

1. Alacalufan languages
2. Arauan languages
3. Araucanian languages
4. Arawakan languages
5. Arutani–Sape languages
6. Aymaran languages
7. Barbacoan languages
8. Cahuapanan languages
9. Carib languages
10. Catacaoan languages
11. Chapacuran languages
12. Charruan languages
13. Chibchan languages
14. Chimuan languages
15. Choco languages
16. Chon languages
17. Esmerelda–Yaruro languages
18. Guaicuruan languages (Waikurian)
19. Hibito–Cholon languages
20. Hodï languages
21. Ge languages
22. Jicaquean languages
23. Jirajaran languages
24. Jivaroan languages
25. Katembri–Taruma languages
26. Katukinan languages
27. Lencan languages
28. Lule–Vilela languages
29. Mascoian languages
30. Mashakalian languages
31. Matacoan languages
32. Misumalpan languages 
33. Mosetenan languages
34. Mura languages
35. Nadahup languages
36. Nambiquaran languages
37. Otomakoan languages
38. Pano–Tacanan languages
39. Peba–Yaguan languages
40. Puinavean languages (Maku)
41. Quechuan languages
42. Salivan languages
43. Tequiraca–Canichana languages
44. Timotean languages
45. Tiniguan languages
46. Tucanoan languages
47. Tupian languages
48. Uru–Chipaya languages
49. Witotoan language
50. Xincan languages
51. Yabutian languages
52. Yanomam languages
53. Zamucoan languages
54. Zaparoan languages 

 North America

1. Algic languages
2. Caddoan languages 
3. Chimakuan languages 
4. Chumashan languages 
5. Eskimo–Aleut languages 
6. Hokan 
7. Iroquoian languages 
8. Keres languages 
9. Mayan languages
10. Mixe–Zoquean languages
11. Muskogean languages 
12. Na-Dene languages
13. Oto-Manguean languages
14. Penutian 
15. Siouan–Catawban languages 
16. Tanoan languages 
17. Totonacan languages 
18. Uto-Aztecan languages 
19. Wakashan languages 
20. Wintuan languages 
21. Yukian languages 

Australia

1. Bunaban languages
2. Daly languages
3. Limilngan languages
4. Djeragan languages
5. Nyulnyulan languages
6. Wororan languages
7. Mirndi languages
8. Arnhem Land languages
9. Gunwinyguan languages
10. Pama–Nyungan languages
11. Tasmanian languages

 Languages of Papua and Surrounding Islands

1. Baining languages
2. Border languages
3. Central Solomons languages
4. East Bird's Head – Sentani languages
5. Eastern Trans-Fly languages
6. Fas languages
7. East Geelvink Bay languages
8. Lakes Plain languages
9. Left May languages
10. Kwomtari languages
11. Mairasi languages
12. Nimboran languages
13. North Bougainville languages
14. Piawi languages
15. Ramu – Lower Sepik languages
16. Senagi languages
17. Sepik languages
18. Skou languages
19. South Bougainville languages
20. Tor–Kwerba languages
21. Torricelli languages
22. Trans-Fly – Bulaka River languages
23. Trans–New Guinea
24. West New Britain languages
25. West Papuan languages
26. Yuat languages

Eurasia

1. Japonic languages
2. Andamanese languages
3. Austroasiatic languages
4. Austronesian languages
5. Ongan languages
6. Tai–Kadai languages
7. Miao-Yao languages (Hmong-Mien)
8. Sino-Tibetan languages
9. Mongolic languages
10. Tungusic languages
11. Turkic languages
12. Caspian languages(NE Caucasian
13. Hurro-Urartian languages
14. Pontic languages (NW Caucasian)
15. Yeniseian languages
16. Dravidian languages
17. Indo-European languages
18. Kartvelian languages (S Caucasian)
19. Luorawetlan languages (ChuckotkoKamchatkan)
20. Tyrsenian languages
21. Uralic languages
22. Yukaghir languages

Africa and Southwest Asia

1. Afro-Asiatic languages
2. Niger–Congo languages
3. Nilo-Saharan languages
4. Khoe languages
5. Tuu languages
6. Kx'a languages
7. Ubangian languages
8. Mande languages
9. Songhay languages
10. Kadu languages
11. Koman languages 

     Now, some of these language families are grouped into one another still. Like many listed under africa, but you see the pattern?

     It's been suggested  that this is due to the spread of agriculture, pastoralism, and other technological innovations. Earlier groups either assimilated into, or were replaced by, groups that they expanded into. Kind of like how most of Mexico now speaks spanish, even amongst people with high degrees of native ancestry.

    Though its not always the conquered that adopts the languages of the conquerer. When he persians conquered the Assyrian Empire, they borrowed Aramaic for administrative purposes. Aramaic appears to be just a trade language that had replaced the earlier Akkadian. Predicting what languages will replace what is a less than straightforward seeming process.

Lists of language families taken from:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_language_families