Simplifications made early in learning can reshape language complexity: An experimental test of the Linguistic Niche Hypothesis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract / Description of output

Languages spoken in larger populations seem to be relatively simple. One possible explanation is that this is a consequence of the simplifying influence of non-native speakers: adult learners tend to reduce complexity during learning, and large languages tend to have a higher proportion of non-native speakers. This Linguistic Niche Hypothesis, that languages adapt to their social niche, receives some statistical support from typological studies which show negative correlations between population size or number of non-native speakers and morphological complexity. Here I report an experimental test of this hypothesis, using two artificial language learning experiments to explore the impact of simplifications made by non-native-like early learners on morphological complexity. These experiments show that the presence of non-native-like early learners in a population can lead to the simplification of that language's morphology as a result of inter-generational language transmission, providing experimental support for the Linguistic Niche Hypothesis.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 46th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society
EditorsLarissa K Samuelson, Stefan Frank, Mariya Toneva, Allyson Mackey, Eliot Hazeltine
PublishereScholarship University of California
Pages1346-1353
Volume46
Publication statusPublished - 2024
EventThe 46th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society - Postillion Hotel & Conference Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Duration: 24 Jul 202427 Jul 2024
https://cognitivesciencesociety.org/cogsci-2024

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society
PublishereScholarship University of California
Volume46
ISSN (Electronic)1069-7977

Conference

ConferenceThe 46th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society
Abbreviated titleCOGSCI 2024
Country/TerritoryNetherlands
CityRotterdam
Period24/07/2427/07/24
Internet address

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • language complexity
  • linguistic niche hypothesis
  • adult learning
  • artificial language learning
  • iterated learning

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Simplifications made early in learning can reshape language complexity: An experimental test of the Linguistic Niche Hypothesis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this