Modeling Co-evolution of Speech and Biology
Authored by Boer Bart de
Date Published: 2016
DOI: 10.1111/tops.12191
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Abstract
Two computer simulations are investigated that model interaction of
cultural evolution of language and biological evolution of adaptations
to language. Both are agent-based models in which a population of agents
imitates each other using realistic vowels. The agents evolve under
selective pressure for good imitation. In one model, the evolution of
the vocal tract is modeled; in the other, a cognitive mechanism for
perceiving speech accurately is modeled. In both cases, biological
adaptations to using and learning speech evolve, even though the system
of speech sounds itself changes at a more rapid time scale than
biological evolution. However, the fact that the available acoustic
space is used maximally (a self-organized result of cultural evolution)
is constant, and therefore biological evolution does have a stable
target. This work shows that when cultural and biological traits are
continuous, their co-evolution may lead to cognitive adaptations that
are strong enough to detect empirically.
Tags
language evolution
Cultural-evolution
Vowel systems
Newborn
Faculty