Adult Learning and Language Simplification. (15th October 2018)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Adult Learning and Language Simplification. (15th October 2018)
- Main Title:
- Adult Learning and Language Simplification
- Authors:
- Atkinson, Mark
Smith, Kenny
Kirby, Simon - Abstract:
- Abstract: Languages spoken in larger populations are relatively simple. A possible explanation for this is that languages with a greater number of speakers tend to also be those with higher proportions of non‐native speakers, who may simplify language during learning. We assess this explanation for the negative correlation between population size and linguistic complexity in three experiments, using artificial language learning techniques to investigate both the simplifications made by individual adult learners and the potential for such simplifications to influence group‐level language characteristics. In Experiment 1, we show that individual adult learners trained on a morphologically complex miniature language simplify its morphology. In Experiment 2, we explore how these simplifications may then propagate through subsequent learning. We use the languages produced by the participants of Experiment 1 as the input for a second set of learners, manipulating (a) the proportion of their input which is simplified and (b) the number of speakers they receive their input from. We find, contrary to expectations, that mixing the input from multiple speakers nullifies the simplifications introduced by individuals in Experiment 1; simplifications at the individual level do not result in simplification of the population's language. In Experiment 3, we focus on language use as a mechanism for simplification, exploring the consequences of the interaction between individuals differing inAbstract: Languages spoken in larger populations are relatively simple. A possible explanation for this is that languages with a greater number of speakers tend to also be those with higher proportions of non‐native speakers, who may simplify language during learning. We assess this explanation for the negative correlation between population size and linguistic complexity in three experiments, using artificial language learning techniques to investigate both the simplifications made by individual adult learners and the potential for such simplifications to influence group‐level language characteristics. In Experiment 1, we show that individual adult learners trained on a morphologically complex miniature language simplify its morphology. In Experiment 2, we explore how these simplifications may then propagate through subsequent learning. We use the languages produced by the participants of Experiment 1 as the input for a second set of learners, manipulating (a) the proportion of their input which is simplified and (b) the number of speakers they receive their input from. We find, contrary to expectations, that mixing the input from multiple speakers nullifies the simplifications introduced by individuals in Experiment 1; simplifications at the individual level do not result in simplification of the population's language. In Experiment 3, we focus on language use as a mechanism for simplification, exploring the consequences of the interaction between individuals differing in their linguistic competence (as native and non‐native speakers might). We find that speakers who acquire a more complex language than their partner simplify their language during interaction. We ultimately conclude that adult learning can result in languages spoken by more people having simpler morphology, but that idiosyncratic simplifications by non‐natives do not offer a complete explanation in themselves; accommodation—by comparatively competent non‐natives to less competent speakers, or by native speakers to non‐natives—may be a key linking mechanism. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Cognitive science. Volume 42:Number 8(2018)
- Journal:
- Cognitive science
- Issue:
- Volume 42:Number 8(2018)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 42, Issue 8 (2018)
- Year:
- 2018
- Volume:
- 42
- Issue:
- 8
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2018-0042-0008-0000
- Page Start:
- 2818
- Page End:
- 2854
- Publication Date:
- 2018-10-15
- Subjects:
- Language evolution -- Language complexity -- Cultural transmission -- Adult learning -- Linguistic accommodation -- Foreigner‐directed speech
Cognition -- Periodicals
Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals
Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals
153.05 - Journal URLs:
- http://firstsearch.oclc.org/journal=0364-0213;screen=info;ECOIP ↗
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121670282/home ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03640213 ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/cogs.12686 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0364-0213
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 3292.885000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 23753.xml