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Language evolution and population dynamics in a system of two interacting species

Author

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  • Kosmidis, Kosmas
  • Halley, John M.
  • Argyrakis, Panos

Abstract

We use Monte Carlo simulations and assumptions from evolutionary game theory in order to study the evolution of words and the population dynamics of a system made of two interacting species which initially speak two different languages. The species are characterized by their identity, vocabulary, and have different initial fitness, i.e. reproduction capability. We investigate how different initial fitness affects the vocabulary of the species or the population dynamics by leading to a permanent populational advantage. We further find that the spatial distributions of the species may cause the system to exhibit pattern formation or segregation. We show that an initial fitness advantage, even though very quickly balanced, leads to better spatial arrangement and enhances survival probabilities of the species. In most cases the system will arrive at a final state where both languages coexist. However, in cases where one species greatly outnumbers the other in population and fitness, then only one species survives with its “final” language having a slightly richer vocabulary than its initial language. Thus, our results offer an explanation for the existence and origin of synonyms in spoken languages.

Suggested Citation

  • Kosmidis, Kosmas & Halley, John M. & Argyrakis, Panos, 2005. "Language evolution and population dynamics in a system of two interacting species," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 353(C), pages 595-612.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:353:y:2005:i:c:p:595-612
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2005.02.038
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    Cited by:

    1. An, Zhecheng & Pan, Qiuhui & Yu, Guangying & Wang, Zhen, 2012. "The spatial distribution of clusters and the formation of mixed languages in bilingual competition," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(20), pages 4943-4952.
    2. Bakalis, Evangelos & Galani, Alexandra, 2012. "Modeling language evolution: Aromanian, an endangered language in Greece," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(20), pages 4963-4969.
    3. Pedro Ribeiro de Andrade & Antonio Miguel Vieira Monteiro & Gilberto Câmara & Sandra Sandri, 2009. "Games on Cellular Spaces: How Mobility Affects Equilibrium," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 12(1), pages 1-5.
    4. Michael Boissonneault & Paul Vogt, 2021. "A systematic and interdisciplinary review of mathematical models of language competition," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Rodriguez, E. & Aguilar-Cornejo, M. & Femat, R. & Alvarez-Ramirez, J., 2014. "Scale and time dependence of serial correlations in word-length time series of written texts," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 414(C), pages 378-386.

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