Paper Info
Title
How Can We Explain The Emergence Of A Language That Benefits The Hearer But Not The Speaker?
Abstract
In this paper, we explore various adaptive factors that can influence the emergence of a communication system that benefits the receiver of signals (the hearer) but not the emitter (the speaker). Using computer simulations of a population of interacting agents whose behaviour is determined by a neural network, we show that a stable communication system does not emerge in groups of unrelated individuals because of its altruistic character. None the less, another set of simulations shows that the emergence of a language that confers an advantage only to hearers, not to speakers, is possible under at least three conditions: (1) if the hearer and the speaker tend to share the same genes, as predicted by kin selection theory; (2) if the population is 'docile' and the communication system is culturally transmitted together with other adaptive behaviours, as predicted by Simon's docility theory; and (3) if the linguistic system is used not only for social communication, but also for talking to oneself, in particular as an aid to memory.
Year
DOI
Venue
2005
10.1080/09540090500177539
CONNECTION SCIENCE
Keywords
Field
DocType
language evolution, alturism, neutral networks, kin selection, docility theory, talking to oneself
Intrapersonal communication,Population,Linguistic system,Neutral network,Altruism,Computer science,Communications system,Natural language,Artificial intelligence,Kin selection
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
17
3-4
0954-0091
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
9
0.67
6
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Marco Mirolli110811.99
Domenico Parisi2745101.62