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Eliminating unpredictable variation through iterated learning
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Smith, Kenny and Wonnacott, Elizabeth (2010) Eliminating unpredictable variation through iterated learning. Cognition, Volume 116 (Number 3). pp. 444-449. doi:10.1016/j.cognition.2010.06.004 ISSN 0010-0277.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2010.06.004
Abstract
Human languages may be shaped not only by the (individual psychological) processes of language acquisition, but also by population-level processes arising from repeated language learning and use. One prevalent feature of natural languages is that they avoid unpredictable variation. The current work explores whether linguistic predictability might result from a process of iterated learning in simple diffusion chains of adults. An iterated artificial language learning methodology was used, in which participants were organised into diffusion chains: the first individual in each chain was exposed to an artificial language which exhibited unpredictability in plural marking, and subsequent learners were exposed to the language produced by the previous learner in their chain. Diffusion chains, but not isolate learners, were found to cumulatively increase predictability of plural marking by lexicalising the choice of plural marker. This suggests that such gradual, cumulative population-level processes offer a possible explanation for regularity in language.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology | ||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Language acquisition, Language transfer (Language learning), Psycholinguistics | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Cognition | ||||
Publisher: | Elsevier | ||||
ISSN: | 0010-0277 | ||||
Official Date: | 2010 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Volume 116 | ||||
Number: | Number 3 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 444-449 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cognition.2010.06.004 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Date of first compliant deposit: | 23 December 2015 | ||||
Date of first compliant Open Access: | 23 December 2015 |
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