A5028095009- Language and cultural evolution
- Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
- Categorization, perception, and language
- Linguistic Variation and Morphology
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
- Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies
- Natural Language Processing Techniques
- Speech and dialogue systems
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Cultural Differences and Values
- Digital Games and Media
- Hearing Impairment and Communication
- Culture, Economy, and Development Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Linguistics and language evolution
- Linguistics and Cultural Studies
- Multisensory perception and integration
- Artificial Intelligence in Games
- Linguistics, Language Diversity, and Identity
- Digital Communication and Language
- Authorship Attribution and Profiling
- Lexicography and Language Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Topic Modeling
- linguistics and terminology studies
University of Wales
2024
Cardiff University
2020-2024
University of Glasgow
2024
University of Bristol
2016-2023
University of York
2022
Radboud University Nijmegen
2022
University of Oxford
2022
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
2013-2017
Max Planck Society
2013-2016
University of Edinburgh
2010-2014
There would be little adaptive value in a complex communication system like human language if there were no ways to detect and correct problems. A systematic comparison of conversation broad sample the world’s languages reveals universal for real-time resolution frequent breakdowns communication. In 12 8 families varied typological profiles we find ‘other-initiated repair’, where recipient an unclear message can signal trouble sender repair original message. We that this is frequently used...
Is there a universal hierarchy of the senses, such that some senses (e.g., vision) are more accessible to consciousness and linguistic description than others smell)? The long-standing presumption in Western thought has been vision audition objective other serving as basis knowledge understanding, whereas touch, taste, smell crude little value. This predicts humans ought be better at communicating about sight hearing decades work based on English related languages certainly suggests this is...
The recent proliferation of digital databases cultural and linguistic data, together with new statistical techniques becoming available has lead to a rise in so-called nomothetic studies [1]–[8]. These seek relationships between demographic variables traits from large, cross-cultural datasets. insights these are important for understanding how evolve. While fascinating good at generating testable hypotheses, they may underestimate the probability finding spurious correlations traits. Here we...
Significance The sound systems of human languages are not generally thought to be ecologically adaptive. We offer the most extensive evidence date that such in fact adaptive and can influenced, at least some respects, by climatic factors. Based on a survey laryngology data demonstrating deleterious effects aridity vocal cord movement, we predict complex tone patterns should relatively unlikely evolve arid climates. This prediction is supported careful statistical sampling phonological...
The timing of turn taking in conversation is extremely rapid given the cognitive demands on speakers to comprehend, plan and execute turns real time. Findings from psycholinguistics predict that influenced by processing, such as word frequency or syntactic complexity. An alternative view comes field analysis, which predicts rules turn-taking sequence organization may dictate variation gap durations (e.g., functional role each communication). In this paper, we estimate these two different...
A previous study by Chen demonstrates a correlation between languages that grammatically mark future events and their speakers' propensity to save, even after controlling for numerous economic demographic factors. The implication is which distinguish the present may bias speakers them psychologically, leading less future-oriented decision making. However, Chen's original analysis assumed are independent. This neglects fact related, causing correlations appear stronger than warranted...
Abstract Previous work has proposed various mechanisms by which the environment may affect emergence of linguistic features. For example, dry air cause careful control pitch to be more effortful, and so distinctions that rely on such as lexical tone or vowel inventories. Criticisms these proposals point out there are both historical geographic confounds need controlled for. We take a causal inference approach this problem design most detailed test theory date. analyse languages from Bantu...
We review a number of recent studies that have identified either correlations between different linguistic features (e.g., implicational universals) or and nonlinguistic properties speakers their environment effects geography on vocabulary). compare large-scale quantitative with more traditional theoretical historical research identify divergent assumptions methods led linguists to be skeptical correlational work. also attempt demystify statistical techniques point out the importance...
Abstract We make the case that, contra standard assumption in linguistic theory, sound systems of human languages are adapted to their environment. While not conclusive, this plausible rests on several points discussed work: First, behavior is generally adaptive and that characteristic does extend structure empirically unsubstantiated. Second, animal communication well known be within species across a variety phyla taxa. Third, research laryngology demonstrates clearly ambient desiccation...
The impact of introducing double-blind reviewing in the most recent Evolution Language conference is assessed. ranking papers compared between EvoLang 11 (double-blind review) and 9 10 (single-blind review). Main effects were found for first author gender by conference. results mirror some findings literature on review, suggesting that it helps reduce a bias against female authors.
Abstract Language is one of the most complex human traits. There are many hypotheses about how it originated, what factors shaped its diversity, and ongoing processes drive changes. We present Causal Hypotheses in Evolutionary Linguistics Database (CHIELD, https://chield.excd.org/), a tool for expressing, exploring, evaluating hypotheses. It allows researchers to integrate multiple theories into coherent narrative, helping design future research. goals, formal specification, an...
Face-to-face communication is multimodal at its core: it consists of a combination vocal and visual signalling. However, current evidence suggests that, in the absence an established system, signalling, especially form visible gesture, more powerful than vocalization therefore likely to have played primary role emergence human language. This argument based on experimental how modalities (i.e. gesture) are employed communicate about familiar concepts when participants cannot use their...
Gender biases in fictional dialogue are well documented many media. In film, television and books, female characters tend to talk less than male characters, each other other, have a more limited range of things say. Identifying these is an important step towards addressing them. However, there lack solid data for video games, now one the major mass media which has ability shape conceptions gender roles. We present Video Game Dialogue Corpus, first large-scale, consistently coded corpus game...
This paper discusses the maximum robustness approach for studying cases of adaptation in language. We live an age where we have more data on languages than ever before, and to link it with from other domains. should make easier test hypotheses involving adaptation, also spot new patterns that might be explained by adaptation. However, there is not much discussion overall research this area. There are outstanding questions about how formalize theories, what criteria directing integrate...
Abstract Recent studies have taken advantage of newly available, large-scale, cross-linguistic data and new statistical techniques to look at the relationship between language structure social structure. These ‘nomothetic’ approaches contrast with more traditional a tension is observed proponents each method. We review some nomothetic point out challenges that must be overcome. However, we argue can contribute our understanding links if they address these are as part body mutually supporting...
We investigate the emergence of iconicity, specifically a bouba-kiki effect in miniature artificial languages under different functional constraints: when are reproduced and they used communicatively. ran transmission chains (a) participant dyads who played an interactive communicative game (b) individual participants matched learning game. An analysis over six generations iterated experiment revealed that Communication condition, but not Reproduction words for spiky shapes tend to be rated...
This paper outlines a first attempt to model the special constraints that arise in language processing conversation, and explore implications such functional considerations may have on typology change. In particular, we focus pressures imposed by conversational turn-taking their consequences for cultural evolution of structural properties language. We present an agent-based where agents take turns at talk conversation. When start planning next turn is constrained position verb, stable...
This paper presents the Video Game Dialogue Corpus, first large-scale, consistently coded, open source corpus of dialogue from video games. It contains over 6.2 million words English fifty games in Role Playing (rpg) genre. includes produced between 1985 and 2020, rated for children, teenagers adults, both ‘Western’ ‘Japanese’ sub-genres. The design is described, including custom data formats representing branching dialogue. We demonstrate use by comparing female male characters, where we...
Dependency is a fundamental concept in the analysis of linguistic systems. The many if-then statements offered typology and grammar-writing imply causally real notion dependency that central to claim being made—usually with reference widely varying timescales types processes. But despite importance our work, its nature seldom defined or made explicit. This book brings together experts on language, representing descriptive linguistics, language typology, functional/cognitive cognitive...
Cultural transmission biases such as prestige are thought to have been a primary driver in shaping the dynamics of human cultural evolution. However, few empirical studies measured importance relative other effects, content present within information being transmitted. Here, we report findings an experimental study designed compare simultaneous effects model using high- or low-prestige regional accent with presence narrative containing social, survival, emotional, moral, rational,...
This study looks at how linguistic conventions arise in the context of face-toface, real-time interaction.This topic is difficult to because initial contact events for most languages happened long ago.Two approaches try tackle this.The first experimental semiotics: putting people a situation where they need improvise new communication system.Studies have considered relative role different biases this process (Tamariz, et al., 2014) such as frequency bias (where more frequent signs prevail),...