缩写法则的文化进化模型
Olivier Morin1, Alexey Koshevoy1,2
1Institut Jean Nicod, Département d'études cognitives, ENS, EHESS, CNRS, PSL University.
Topics in cognitive science
|December 24, 2024
概括
缩写法则,一种将单词的频率与长度联系在一起的模式,不仅仅是由效率驱动的. 一个新的文化进化模型表明,一般的简洁性压力更好地解释了这种语言现象.
科学领域:
- 语言学的语言学.
- 计算语言学 计算语言学
- 进化生物学 进化生物学
背景情况:
- 齐夫的缩写定律,字的频率和长度之间的相关性,是一个近乎普遍的语言原理.
- 标准解释认为,这种定律是效率压力造成的,因为说话者喜欢短短的单词,以便频繁使用.
研究的目的:
- 挑战基于效率的解释Zipf的法律的缩写.
- 提出和验证一个替代的文化进化模型,用于单词频率-短度相关性.
主要方法:
- 为语言开发一种简单的文化进化模型.
- 对模型关于单词频率和简洁度之间的相关性预测的分析.
- 模型预测与语言模式的经验数据的比较.
主要成果:
- 标准效率模型无法解释法律中存在的长词和系统性的弱点.
- 拟议的文化进化模型准确地预测了单词频率-短度的持续弱相关性和异构性.
- 该模型不需要效率压力,从一般的简洁性压力中推导出法律.
结论:
- 为了解释Zipf的缩写定律,效率既不必要也不够.
- 一个文化进化观点,强调一般的简洁性,提供了一个更强大的解释语言模式的单词使用.
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