| Preface
 Sample Chapter - Download PDF (49 KB) | xiii |
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| Acknowledgments | xvii |
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| I | The Problem | 1 |
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| 1 | Introduction
Sample Chapter - Download PDF (377 KB) | 3 |
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| | 1.1 | Language Acquisition | 8 |
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| | 1.2 | Variation -- Synchonic and Diachronic | 13 |
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| | 1.3 | More Examples of Change | 16 |
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| | 1.4 | Perspective and Conceptual Issues | 25 |
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| | 1.5 | Evolution in Linguistics and Biology | 32 |
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| | 1.6 | Summary of Results | 37 |
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| | 1.7 | Audience and Connections to Other Fields | 42 |
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| II | Language Learning | 47 |
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| 2 | Language Acquisition: The Problem of Inductive Inference | 49 |
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| | 2.1 | A Framework for Learning | 50 |
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| | 2.2 | The Inductive Inference Approach | 56 |
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| | 2.3 | The Probably Approximately CorrectModel and the VC Theorem | 71 |
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| 3 | Language Acquisition: A Linguistic Treatment | 83 |
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| | 3.1 | Language Learning and the Poverty of Stimulus | 86 |
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| | 3.2 | Constrained Grammars — Principles and Parameters | 88 |
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| | 3.3 | Learning in the Principles and Parameters Framework | 96 |
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| | 3.4 | Formal Analysis of the Triggering Learning Algorithm | 100 |
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| | 3.5 | Conclusions | 111 |
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| | 3.6 | Appendix | 113 |
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| 4 | Language Acquisition: Memoryless Learning | 117 |
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| | 4.1 | Characterizing Convergence Times for the Markov Chain Model | 117 |
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| | 4.2 | Exploring Other Points | 129 |
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| | 4.3 | Batch Learning Upper and Lower Bounds: An Aside | 135 |
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| | 4.4 | Generalizations and Variations | 138 |
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| | 4.5 | Other Kinds of Learning Algorithms | 142 |
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| | 4.6 | Conclusions | 144 |
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| | 4.7 | Appendix: Proofs for Memoryless Algorithms | 146 |
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| III | Language Change | 153 |
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| 5 | Language Change: A Preliminary Model | 155 |
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| | 5.1 | An Acquisition-Based Model of Language Change | 157 |
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| | 5.2 | A Preliminary Model | 160 |
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| | 5.3 | Implications and Further Directions | 177 |
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| 6 | Language Change: Multiple Languages | 187 |
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| | 6.1 | Multiple Languages | 187 |
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| | 6.2 | Example 1: A Three-Parameter System | 195 |
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| | 6.3 | Example 2: Syntactic Change in French | 218 |
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| | 6.4 | Conclusions | 229 |
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| 7 | An Application to Portuguese | 233 |
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| | 7.1 | Portuguese: A Case Study | 234 |
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| | 7.2 | The Logical Basis of Language Change | 238 |
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| | 7.3 | Conclusions | 248 |
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| 8 | An Application to Chinese Phonology | 251 |
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| | 8.1 | Phonological Merger in the Wenzhou Province | 252 |
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| | 8.2 | Two Forms in a Population | 257 |
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| | 8.3 | Examining the Wenzhou Data Further | 265 |
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| | 8.4 | Error-Driven Models | 268 |
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| | 8.5 | Discussion | 271 |
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| | 8.6 | Conclusions | 273 |
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| 9 | A Model of Cultural Evolution and Its Application to Language | 275 |
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| | 9.1 | Background | 275 |
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| | 9.2 | The Cavalli-Sforza and Feldman Theory | 277 |
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| | 9.3 | Instantiating the CF Model for Languages | 279 |
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| | 9.4 | CF Models for Some Simple Learning Algorithms | 284 |
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| | 9.5 | A Generalized NB Model for Neighborhood Effects | 298 |
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| | 9.6 | A Note on Oblique Transmission | 302 |
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| | 9.7 | Conclusions | 303 |
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| 10 | Variations and Case Studies | 305 |
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| | 10.1 | Finite Populations | 305 |
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| | 10.2 | Spatial Effects | 314 |
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| | 10.3 | Multilingual Learners | 320 |
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| | 10.4 | Conclusions | 336 |
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| IV | The Origin of Language | 339 |
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| 11 | The Origin of Communicative Systems: Communicative Efficiency | 341 |
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| | 11.1 | Communicative Efficiency of Language | 343 |
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| | 11.2 | Communicability for Linguistic Systems | 346 |
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| | 11.3 | Reaching the Highest Communicability | 351 |
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| | 11.4 | Implications for Learning | 359 |
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| | 11.5 | Communicative Efficiency and Linguistic Structure | 366 |
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| 12 | The Origin of Communicative Systems: Linguistic Coherence and Communicative Fitness | 375 |
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| | 12.1 | General Model | 376 |
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| | 12.2 | Dynamics of a Fully Symmetric System | 379 |
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| | 12.3 | Fidelity of Learning Algorithms | 392 |
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| | 12.4 | Asymmetric A Matrices | 398 |
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| | 12.5 | Conclusions | 402 |
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| 13 | The Origin of Communicative Systems: Linguistic Coherence and Social Learning | 405 |
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| | 13.1 | Learning Only from Parents | 406 |
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| | 13.2 | Social Learning: Learning from Everybody | 408 |
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| | 13.3 | Coherence for General n | 415 |
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| | 13.4 | Proofs of Evolutionary Dynamics Results | 418 |
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| | 13.5 | Coherence for a Memoryless Learner | 432 |
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| | 13.6 | Learning in Connected Societies | 433 |
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| | 13.7 | Conclusions | 441 |
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| V | Conclusions | 443 |
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| 14 | Conclusions
Sample Chapter - Download PDF (151 KB) | 445 |
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| | 14.1 | A Summary of the Major Insights | 446 |
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| | 14.2 | Future Directions | 449 |
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| | 14.3 | A Concluding Thought | 458 |
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| Bibliography
Sample Chapter - Download PDF (112 KB) | 459 |
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| Index
Sample Chapter - Download PDF (44 KB) | 479 |
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