The Inferential Transmission of Language
The Inferential Transmission of Language
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语言的推理传递
DOI：
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发表时间：
2005
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
Andrew D. M. Smith
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Andrew D. M. Smith
语言是一种象征性的、文化传播的交流系统，它是通过意义推理来学习的。在本文中，我描述了意义推理的重要性，不仅在语言习得中，而且在为语言变化和进化提供统一解释方面。使用基于代理的意义创造和交流计算模型，我展示了如何使用跨情境统计学习，通过跨多个上下文的歧义消除来推断单词的含义。此外，我证明了意义推理过程中固有的不确定性导致了概念和词汇结构的稳定变化，提供了有助于解释语言如何在不失去可交流性的情况下快速变化的证据。最后，我描述了传播的推理模型如何为文化传播系统的引导以及随后的逐步复杂化的合理解释提供重要的理论见解。
Language is a symbolic, culturally transmitted system of communication, which is learnt through the inference of meaning. In this paper, I describe the importance of meaning inference, not only in language acquisition, but also in developing a unified explanation for language change and evolution. Using an agent-based computational model of meaning creation and communication, I show how the meanings of words can be inferred through disambiguation across multiple contexts, using cross-situational statistical learning. I demonstrate that the uncertainty inherent in the process of meaning inference, moreover, leads to stable variation in both conceptual and lexical structure, providing evidence which helps to explain how language changes rapidly without losing communicability. Finally, I describe how an inferential model of communication may provide important theoretical insights into plausible explanations of the bootstrapping of, and the subsequent progressive complexification of, cultural communication systems.