| Title: |
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From Changes in the World to Changes in the Words: Lexical Adaptation |
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| Author(s): |
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Jean-Philippe Magué ( ) 1, 2 |
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| Laboratory: |
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| Fulltext language: |
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English |
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| Production date: |
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2005 |
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| Abstract: |
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This paper deals with the evolution of the lexicon in a changing environment. We adopt Mufwene's (2001) metaphor of 'language as species' that explains evolution of languages as differential selection of features in languages' feature pools. We propose a multi-agent model and use it to explore the role of different constraints on the feature selection process. We show that constraints are indeed competing and that one of them is the major constraint in natural selection, viz., fitness to the environment. |
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| Publication type: |
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Scientific Book chapter |
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| Subject: |
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Humanities and Social Sciences/Linguistics
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| Book title: |
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Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture - A nonadaptationist systems theoretical approach |
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| Commercial editor: |
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Springer |
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| Publication date: |
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2006 |
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| Page: |
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169-194 |
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| Scientifics editor: |
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Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem and Diederik Aerts |
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| Collection: |
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Theory and Decision Library A |
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| Keyword(s): |
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language evolution – semantic change – modeling – multi-agent – conceptual space |
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