Stuart Bradley

Stuart Bradley

Generating synthetic languages aids in the testing and validation of future computational linguistic models and methods. This thesis extends the BEAST2 phylogenetic framework to add linguistic sequence generation under multiple models. The new plugin is then used to test the effects of the phenomena of word borrowing on the inference process under two widely used phylolinguistic models.

Stuart Bradley

There are a number of vectors for attack when trying to link an individual to a certain DNA sequence. Phenotypic prediction is one such vector; linking DNA to an individual based on their traits. Current approaches are not overly effective, due to a number of real world considerations. This report will improve upon current phenotypic prediction, and suggest a number of methods for defending against such an attack.