REVOLUPHON - Rational Evolutionary Phonology

REVOLUPHON - 理性进化音韵学

• 批准号: EP/Y02429X/1
• 负责人: Erich Round
• 金额: $ 214.16万
• 依托单位: University of Surrey
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2024 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FY02429X%2F1
• 关键词: REVOLUPHON; Rational; Evolutionary; Phonology

REVOLUPHON aims to transform the theory of phonology by explaining the field's most significant observations of the past sixty years. Decades of research has revealed that phonologies are particularly well described in terms of (i) certain abstract formal representations and (ii) an optimisation process. However, we do not yet understand why.My core hypothesis is that the dominant, descriptive discoveries of phonology since the 1960's will be explained by a new synthesis with (i) resource rationality; and (ii) cultural evolution.(i) Resource rationality is a new theory of cognition that explains the motivations and advantages of cognitive computational strategies, including for when and how to store information. I hypothesise that resource rationality can illuminate the cognitive motivations for classic, descriptively-successful phonological representations. REVOLUPHON tests this hypothesis by modelling the computational tasks demanded by phonology across three successive developmental stages, and evaluating the resource rationality of classic representations in the contexts of those tasks.(ii) Evolution leads to optimisation and phonologies undergo cultural evolution. However, an explanatory link from evolution to optimisation has yet to be made in phonological theory. I hypothesise that a formalised theory of phonological evolution will explain why phonologies (mostly) optimise, how they do, and when they do not. REVOLUPHON tests this hypothesis by: developing new modes of evolutionary analysis and devising computational models that couple cultural evolution to the resource-rational learning and use of phonology, to solve outstanding theoretical problems of (non-)optimisation and to answer entirely new questions abouthow phonologies evolve.REVOLUPHON charts a bold path that overturns our understanding of the central observations of the field; leads to a new and significantly deeper explanation of them; and founds a vibrant and productive new theory.

REVOLUPHON旨在通过解释该领域过去60年来最重要的观察来改变音系学理论。几十年的研究表明，音位是特别好的描述方面（i）某些抽象的形式表示和（ii）优化过程。我的核心假设是，自20世纪60年代以来，语音学的主要描述性发现将被解释为一种新的综合：（i）资源理性;（ii）文化进化。(i)资源合理性是一种新的认知理论，它解释了认知计算策略的动机和优势，包括何时以及如何存储信息。我假设，资源合理性可以照亮经典的，成功的语音表征的认知动机。REVOLUPHON通过模拟语音学在三个连续的发展阶段所要求的计算任务来测试这一假设，并在这些任务的背景下评估经典表征的资源合理性。(ii)进化导致优化，语音经历文化进化。然而，从进化到优化的解释性联系尚未在音系学理论中提出。我假设一个正式的语音进化理论将解释为什么语音（大多数）优化，他们如何做，当他们不。REVOLUPHON通过以下方式测试这一假设：开发新的进化分析模式并设计计算模型，将文化进化与语音学的资源理性学习和使用结合起来，解决（非）优化的突出理论问题，并回答有关语音学如何进化的全新问题。REVOLUPHON开辟了一条大胆的道路，颠覆了我们对该领域中心观察的理解;导致了一个新的和显着更深入的解释他们;并建立了一个充满活力和生产力的新理论。