Emergence of communication and language / Caroline Lyon, Chrystopher L. Nehaniv and Angelo Cangelosi (eds).

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Lyon, Caroline.

Nehaniv, Chrystopher L., 1963-

Cangelosi, Angelo, 1967-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language and languages--Origin.

Language and languages.

Computational linguistics.

Physical Description:

xi, 438 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Springer, [2007]

Summary:

Old questions on the origins of language and communication are illuminated here in new, state-of-the-art research. This volume brings together studies from diverse disciplines, showing how they can inform and stimulate each other. It includes work in linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, anthropology and computer science. New empirical work is reported on both human and animal communication, using some novel techniques that have only recently become viable.

A principal theme is the importance of studies involving artificial agents, their contribution to the body of knowledge on the emergence of communication and language, and the role of simulations in exploring some of the most significant issues. A number of different synthetic systems are described, demonstrating how communication can emerge in natural and artificial organisms. Theories on the origins of language are supported by computational and robotic experiments. Worldwide contributors to this volume include some of the most influential figures in the field, delivering essential reading for researchers and graduates in the area, as well as providing fascinating insights for a wider readership.

Contents:

1 Current Work and Open Problems: A Road-Map for Research into the Emergence of Communication and Language / Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, Caroline Lyon, Angela Cangelosi 1

Part I Empirical Investigations on Human Language

2 Evolving Meaning: The Roles of Kin Selection, AUomothering and Paternal Care in Language Evolution / W. Tecumseh Fitch 29

3 'Needs only' Analysis in Linguistic Ontogeny and Phylogeny / Alison Wray 53

4 Clues from Information Theory Indicating a Phased Emergence of Grammar / Caroline Lyon, Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, Bob Dickerson 71

5 Emergence of a Communication System: International Sign / Rachel Rosenstock 87

6 Distributed Language: Biomechanics, Functions, and the Origins of Talk / Stephen J. Cowley 105

Part II Synthesis of Communication and Language in Artificial Systems

7 The Recruitment Theory of Language Origins / Luc Steels 129

8 In Silico Evolutionary Developmental Neurobiology and the Origin of Natural Language / Eors Szathmary, Zoltan Szatmary, Peter Ittzes, Gergo Orban, Istvan Zachar, Ferenc Huszar, Anna Fedor, Mate Varga, Szabolcs Szamado 151

9 Communication in Natural and Artificial Organisms: Experiments in Evolutionary Robotics / Davide Marocco, Stefano Nolfi 189

10 From Vocal Replication to Shared Combinatorial Speech Codes: A Small Step for Evolution, A Big Step for Language / Pierre-Yves Oudeyer 207

11 Learning and Transition of Symbols: Towards a Dynamical Model of a Symbolic Individual / Takashi Hashimoto, Akira Masumi 223

12 Language Change among 'Memoryless Learners' Simulated in Language Dynamics Equations / Makoto Nakamura, Takashi Hashimoto, Satoshi Tojo 237

13 The Evolution of Meaning-Space Structure through Iterated Learning / Simon Kirby 253

14 The Emergence of Language: How to Simulate It / Domenico Parisi, Marco Mirolli 269

15 Lexical Acquisition with and without Metacommunication / Jonathan Ginzburg, Zoran Macura 287

16 Agent Based Modelling of Communication Costs: Why Information Can Be Free / Ivana Cace, Joanna J. Bryson 305

17 Language Change and the Inference of Meaning / Andrew D. M. Smith 323

18 Language, Perceptual Categories and their Interaction: Insights from Computational Modelling / Tony Belpaeme, Joris Bleys 339

Part III Insights from Animal Communication

19 Emergence of Linguistic Communication: Studies on Grey Parrots / Irene M. Pepperberg 355

20 A Possible Role for Selective Masking in the Evolution of Complex, Learned Communication Systems / Graham R. S. Ritchie, Simon Kirby 387

21 The Natural History of Human Language: Bridging the Gaps without Magic / Bjorn Merker, Kazuo Okanoya 403

22 Neural Substrates for String-Context Mutual Segmentation: A Path to Human Language / Kazuo Okanoya, Bjorn Merker 421.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1846284910

9781846284915

OCLC:

71285563