Language Evolution and Information Theory Export

@article{citeulike:970701, abstract = {This paper places models of language evolution within the framework of information theory. We study how signals become associated with meaning. If there is a probability of mistaking signals for each other, then evolution leads to an error limit: increasing the number of signals does not increase the fitness of a language beyond a certain limit. This error limit can be overcome by word formation: a linear increase of the word length leads to an exponential increase of the maximum fitness. We develop a general model of word formation and demonstrate the connection between the error limit and Shannon's noisy coding theorem.}, author = {Plotkin, Joshua B. and Nowak, Martin A.}, citeulike-article-id = {970701}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/plotkin00languageEvolution.html}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WMD-45CWWWR-4N/2/730acfe0f8706b2e4cf6ed2543830097}, doi = {10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053}, journal = {Journal of Theoretical Biology}, month = {July}, number = {1}, pages = {147--159}, posted-at = {2006-12-07 02:49:09}, priority = {4}, title = {Language Evolution and Information Theory}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053}, volume = {205}, year = {2000} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:970701 L3 - citeulike-article-id:970701 N2 - This paper places models of language evolution within the framework of information theory. We study how signals become associated with meaning. If there is a probability of mistaking signals for each other, then evolution leads to an error limit: increasing the number of signals does not increase the fitness of a language beyond a certain limit. This error limit can be overcome by word formation: a linear increase of the word length leads to an exponential increase of the maximum fitness. We develop a general model of word formation and demonstrate the connection between the error limit and Shannon's noisy coding theorem. IS - 1 JF - Journal of Theoretical Biology EP - 159 TI - Language Evolution and Information Theory VL - 205 SP - 147 AU - Plotkin, Joshua AU - Nowak, Martin PY - 2000/07/07/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053 ER -