An agent-based model of sign language persistence informed by real-world data
Mudd,Katie De Vos,Connie De Boer,Bart
Mudd,Katie
De Vos,Connie
De Boer,Bart
Abstract
As evidence from sign languages is increasingly used to investigate the process of language emergence and evolution, it is important to understand the conditions that allow for sign languages to persist. We build on a mathematical model of sign language persistence (i.e. protection from loss) which takes into account the genetic transmission of deafness, the cultural transmission of sign language and marital patterns (Aoki Feldman, 1991). We use agent-based modeling techniques and draw inspiration from the wealth of genetic and cultural data on the sign language Kata Kolok to move towards a less abstract model of sign language persistence. In a set of experiments we explorehow sign language persistence is affected by language transmission types, the distribution of deafalleles, population size and marital patterns. We highlight the value of using agent-based modeling for this type of research, which allows for the incorporation of real-world data into model development.
Description
Funding Information: We would like express our gratitude to three reviewers for constructive comments on a version of this manuscript. Special thanks to Bill Thompson, Sean Roberts and Yannick Jadoul for providing information about a related project modeling Kata Kolok sign fluency across the community (de Vos et al., 2016) and to Yannick Jadoul and Marnix van Soom for help with coding and fruitful comments throughout the project. A big thanks to Hannah Lutzenberger for sharing her insights into the Kata Kolok community which helped in making modeling decisions. This research was supported by the FWO - NWO grant “The emergence of phonology within six generations” awarded to Bart de Boer, Paula Fikkert and Connie de Vos. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Katie Mudd, Connie de Vos and Bart de Boer.
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2020
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Keywords
agent-based modeling, cultural evolution, language evolution, language persistence, language transmission, Shared sign languages
Citation
Mudd, K, De Vos, C & De Boer, B 2020, 'An agent-based model of sign language persistence informed by real-world data', Language Dynamics and Change, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 158-187. https://doi.org/10.1163/22105832-bja10010