Beyond the tree
Darwin’s temporal language and the emergence of evolutionary lineage thinking in the Origin of Species
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19219149 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Bárbara Jiménez Pazos (0000-0002-9756-7067, University of the Basque Country, corresponding author), Nathalie Gontier (0000-0001-6382-7740, Roma Tre University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 109 |
| Pages | 12-30 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-12 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Language & Communication (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0271-5309 • E-ISSN: 1873-3395 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.langcom.2026.04.001 |
| OpenAlex | W7160957322 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 15 |
Time plays a central role in evolutionary theory. In this paper, we examine the language Darwin used to describe time in his work On the Origin of Species . We present the results of a computationally assisted lexical-semantic analysis of word frequencies, variations, and contextual meanings of time-related lexical items across the six editions of the Origin . Focusing on terms such as cycle , circle , chain , scale , line , tree (of life) , progress , succession , and time , we analyse how Darwin represents temporality through recurrent patterns of usage. Our findings show that Darwin describes species as forming “ chains of affinities ” connected through “ blood relationships ,” which unfold as “ successive ” “ lines of descent .” These expressions indicate a view of evolutionary change as a continuous process articulated through lineages of descent. Our analysis shows that, within this set of terms, tree of life plays only a minor, locally concentrated lexical role in the Origin . Darwin’s representation of evolutionary time is primarily structured through the vocabulary of succession , line , and chain , rather than through arboreal concepts or imagery. This lexical pattern suggests that, at the level of textual articulation, key aspects of evolutionary temporality are predominantly expressed through geological successions and genealogical lineages that would later be found in tree-based models in evolutionary biology.
Biological evolution · Language evolution · Lineage (genetic) · Origin of species · Phylogenetics · Evolution and Science Education · Language and cultural evolution · Origins and Evolution of Life
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |