Reimagining language: Towards a better understanding of language by including our interactions with non-humans
Rasenberg,Marlou Amha,Azeb Coler,Matt Koppen,Marjo van Miltenburg,Emiel van Rijk,Lynn de Stommel,Wyke Dingemanse,Mark
Rasenberg,Marlou
Amha,Azeb
Coler,Matt
Koppen,Marjo van
Miltenburg,Emiel van
Rijk,Lynn de
Stommel,Wyke
Dingemanse,Mark
Abstract
What is language and who or what can be said to have it? In this essay we consider this question in the context of interactions with non-humans, specifically: animals and computers. While perhaps an odd pairing at first glance, here we argue that these domains can offer contrasting perspectives through which we can explore and reimagine language. The interactions between humans and animals, as well as between humans and computers, reveal both the essence and the boundaries of language: from examining the role of sequence and contingency in human-animal interaction, to unravelling the challenges of natural interactions with "smart"speakers and language models. By bringing together disparate fields around foundational questions, we push the boundaries of linguistic inquiry and uncover new insights into what language is and how it functions in diverse non-humanexclusive contexts.
Description
Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Algemene Vereniging voor Taalwetenschap.
Date
2023-11-01
Journal Title
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Volume Title
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Research Projects
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Keywords
human-animal interaction, human-computer interaction, language, large language models, meaning-making
Citation
Rasenberg, M, Amha, A, Coler, M, Koppen, M V, Miltenburg, E V, Rijk, L D, Stommel, W & Dingemanse, M 2023, 'Reimagining language : Towards a better understanding of language by including our interactions with non-humans', Linguistics in the Netherlands, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 309-317. https://doi.org/10.1075/avt.00095.ras