[Ads-l] Is there something wrong with this title?

[Salikoko Mufwene]

To native speakers and experts of English grammar out there:

     I just came across this article titled "Geographical and social 
isolation drive the evolution of Austronesian languages." I wonder 
whether the verb should be "drives" or whether the subject noun should 
be "isolations"--the latter of which sounds less natural but quite 
logical. It sounds like the author intended a combination of factors 
that drive the evolution, hence the plural. But the grammar I learned or 
inferred tells me something isn't quite right, though the title doesn't 
sound so odd--the editors accepted it!

Sali.

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Salikoko S. Mufwene                    s-mufwene at uchicago.edu
The Frank J. McLoraine Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics and the College
Professor, Committee on Evolutionary Biology
Professor, Committee on the Conceptual & Historical Studies of Science
Professor, Committee on African Studies
Extraordinary Professor, University of Western Cape, 2018-2021
University of Chicago                  773-702-8531; FAX 773-834-0924
Department of Linguistics
1115 East 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637, USA
http://mufwene.uchicago.edu/
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