M.S. Candidate: Burcu Alakuş Çınar
Program: Cognitive Science
Date: 21.07.2023 / 13:00
Place: A-212

Abstract: In this study, we propose a computational model to explain the emergence of dominant word orders and distributions used by today’s languages. This model combines the preferences for word orders results of small deaf communities that had to produce new languages without traditional language inputs and other up-to-date experimental studies with the concept of iterated learning without real data as a thought experi- ment. With iterated learning the model reflects the process through of a person picks up new behaviors after being exposed to those others. The model tries to explain how we transfer our word order preferences to our environment. It simulates the biological reproduction and development of communities while also incorporating our thought to be innate biases. It also examines the effects of the natural pressures of language like education, network structures on generations. Furthermore, it presents and tries to explain the results of possible scenarios with different parameters like community size, distribution of biases, communication network types and pressure effects.