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The evolution of vocabulary.

¹Language Evolution and Computation Research Unit, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Adam Ferguson Building, 40 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LL, UK. kenny@ling.ed.ac.uk

Journal of Theoretical Biology

|April 6, 2004

Summary

Human vocabulary evolves to match learner expectations, driven by a one-to-one mapping bias. This cultural adaptation shapes language, potentially outweighing natural selection on transmission.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary linguistics
Cognitive science
Cultural evolution

Background:

Human language is unique, with culturally transmitted and symbolic vocabulary.
Understanding the evolution of vocabulary systems is crucial for linguistics and cognitive science.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate factors in the evolution of human vocabulary systems.
Examine both cultural and biological evolution of vocabulary acquisition learning rules.

Main Methods:

Cultural evolution analysis of vocabulary systems adapting to learner biases.
Modeling the evolutionary stability of genetically transmitted learning biases.
Investigating one-to-one mapping biases in language acquisition.

Main Results:

Vocabularies culturally evolve to fit learner expectations, favoring one-to-one meaning-word mappings.
Learner bias pressure outweighs natural selection on cultural transmission.
A one-to-one learning bias is evolutionarily stable but its de novo evolution is complex.

Conclusions:

The functionality of human vocabulary may stem from inherent learner biases.
Learner biases, not just communicative pressure, drive vocabulary optimization.
Vocabulary learning biases may not have evolved solely for communication.

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