Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Language exhibits structure: a species-unique system for expressing complex meanings using complex forms.We present a review of modelling and experimental literature on the evolution of structure which suggests that structure is a cultural adaptation in response to pressure for expressivity (arising during communication) and compressibility (arising during learning), and test this hypothesis using a new Bayesian iterated learning model.We conclude that linguistic structure can and should be explained as a consequence of cultural evolution in response to these two pressures.
Authors: Kenny Smith, Mónica Tamariz, Simon Kirby
Language: English
Subfield: Cultural Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1504112564