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Amount of Learning and Signal Stability Modulate Emergence of Structure and Iconicity in Novel Signaling Systems
Vera Kempe1, Nicolas Gauvrit2, Nikolay Panayotov3
1Division of Psychology, Abertay University.
Cognitive Science
|November 10, 2021
Summary
Iterated learning experiments reveal that combinatorial structure emerges in auditory signals, while iconicity appears with reduced learning. Compositionality shows an inverted U-shaped pattern in novel signaling systems.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Iterated language learning experiments investigate linguistic structure emergence.
- Existing studies often isolate combinatorial and compositional structure.
- Methodological variations limit generalizability in current research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the emergence of combinatorial and compositional structure in a novel signal space.
- To investigate the influence of learning amount and signal stability on structure emergence.
- To examine the interplay between iconicity, combinatoriality, and compositionality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a novel signal space with binary auditory and visual sequences.
- Manipulated learning amount (Experiment 1) and temporal stability (Experiment 2).
- Employed iterated transmission chains over 10 generations with participants learning signals for meanings.
Main Results:
- Combinatorial structure emerged exclusively in auditory signals.
- Iconicity increased with reduced learning, suggesting rote memorization hinders iconic exploration.
- Compositionality exhibited an inverted U-shaped trajectory, increasing and then declining across generations.
Conclusions:
- Systematic manipulation of training and signal characteristics is crucial for studying emergent linguistic structures.
- The emergence of stable combinatorial units is necessary for detecting systematic form-meaning linkages.
- Findings highlight the complex interactions between iconicity, combinatoriality, and compositionality in novel systems.
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