The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure

Monica Tamariz; J. Erin Brown; Keelin M. Murray

doi:10.1142/9789814295222_0040

The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure

Monica Tamariz, J. Erin Brown, Keelin M. Murray

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Abstract

Recent iterated language learning studies have shown that artificial languages evolve over the generations towards regularity. This trend has been explained as a reflection of the learners’ biases. We test whether this learning bias for regularity is affected by culturally acquired knowledge, specifically by familiarity and literacy. The results of non-iterated learning experiments with miniature artificial musical and spoken languages suggest that familiarity helps us learn and reproduce the signals of a language, but literacy is required for regularities to be faithfully replicated. This in turn indicates that, by modifying human learning biases, literacy may play a role in the evolution of linguistic structure.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language
Editors	Andrew D. M. Smith, Marieke Schouwstra, Bart de Boer, Kenny Smith
Publisher	World Scientific Publishing
Pages	313-320
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	978-981-4465-68-7
ISBN (Print)	9814295213, 978-9814295215
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814295222_0040
Publication status	Published - 2010
Event	8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language - Utrecht, Netherlands Duration: 14 Apr 2010 → 17 Apr 2010

Conference

Conference	8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language
Abbreviated title	EvoLang 8
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Utrecht
Period	14/04/10 → 17/04/10

Keywords

Literacy
language evolution
compositionality
musical literacy

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10.1142/9789814295222_0040

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Tamariz, M., Brown, J. E., & Murray, K. M. (2010). The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure. In A. D. M. Smith, M. Schouwstra, B. de Boer, & K. Smith (Eds.), The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language (pp. 313-320). World Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814295222_0040

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abstract = "Recent iterated language learning studies have shown that artificial languages evolve over the generations towards regularity. This trend has been explained as a reflection of the learners{\textquoteright} biases. We test whether this learning bias for regularity is affected by culturally acquired knowledge, specifically by familiarity and literacy. The results of non-iterated learning experiments with miniature artificial musical and spoken languages suggest that familiarity helps us learn and reproduce the signals of a language, but literacy is required for regularities to be faithfully replicated. This in turn indicates that, by modifying human learning biases, literacy may play a role in the evolution of linguistic structure.",

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author = "Monica Tamariz and Brown, {J. Erin} and Murray, {Keelin M.}",

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booktitle = "The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language",

publisher = "World Scientific Publishing",

note = "8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language, EvoLang 8 ; Conference date: 14-04-2010 Through 17-04-2010",

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Tamariz, M, Brown, JE & Murray, KM 2010, The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure. in ADM Smith, M Schouwstra, B de Boer & K Smith (eds), The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language. World Scientific Publishing, pp. 313-320, 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language, Utrecht, Netherlands, 14/04/10. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814295222_0040

The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure. / Tamariz, Monica; Brown, J. Erin; Murray, Keelin M.
The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language. ed. / Andrew D. M. Smith; Marieke Schouwstra; Bart de Boer; Kenny Smith. World Scientific Publishing, 2010. p. 313-320.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T1 - The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure

AU - Tamariz, Monica

AU - Brown, J. Erin

AU - Murray, Keelin M.

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Recent iterated language learning studies have shown that artificial languages evolve over the generations towards regularity. This trend has been explained as a reflection of the learners’ biases. We test whether this learning bias for regularity is affected by culturally acquired knowledge, specifically by familiarity and literacy. The results of non-iterated learning experiments with miniature artificial musical and spoken languages suggest that familiarity helps us learn and reproduce the signals of a language, but literacy is required for regularities to be faithfully replicated. This in turn indicates that, by modifying human learning biases, literacy may play a role in the evolution of linguistic structure.

AB - Recent iterated language learning studies have shown that artificial languages evolve over the generations towards regularity. This trend has been explained as a reflection of the learners’ biases. We test whether this learning bias for regularity is affected by culturally acquired knowledge, specifically by familiarity and literacy. The results of non-iterated learning experiments with miniature artificial musical and spoken languages suggest that familiarity helps us learn and reproduce the signals of a language, but literacy is required for regularities to be faithfully replicated. This in turn indicates that, by modifying human learning biases, literacy may play a role in the evolution of linguistic structure.

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KW - language evolution

KW - compositionality

KW - musical literacy

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DO - 10.1142/9789814295222_0040

M3 - Conference contribution

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SN - 978-9814295215

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BT - The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language

A2 - Smith, Andrew D. M.

A2 - Schouwstra, Marieke

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PB - World Scientific Publishing

T2 - 8th International Conference on the Evolution of Language

Y2 - 14 April 2010 through 17 April 2010

ER -

The Role of Practice and Literacy in the Evolution of Linguistic Structure

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Keywords

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