Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems

Carrie Ann Theisen; Jon Oberlander; Simon Kirby

Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems

Carrie Ann Theisen, Jon Oberlander, Simon Kirby

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Human languages include vast numbers of learned, arbitrary signal-meaning mappings but also many complex signal-meaning mappings that are systematically related to each other (i.e. not arbitrary). Although arbitrariness and systematicity are clearly related, the development of the two in communication systems has been explored independently. We present an experiment in which participants invent signs from scratch to refer to a set of real concepts that share semantic features. Through interaction, the systematic re-use of arbitrary elements emerges.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CogSci 2009 Proceedings
Editors	Niels Taatgen, Hedderik van Rijn
Publisher	Cognitive Science Society
Pages	1971-1976
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Print)	9780976831953
Publication status	Published - 2009

Access to Document

Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems
© Theisen, C. A., Oberlander, J., & Kirby, S. (2009). Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems. In N. Taatgen, & H. van Rijn (Eds.), CogSci 2009 Proceedings. (pp. 1971-1976). Cognitive Science Society.
Submitted manuscript, 594 KB

http://www-abc.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/CogSci09/

Cite this

@inproceedings{3bb091c8ac2a4ad6b2ab5a9bfbe5601c,

title = "Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems",

abstract = "Human languages include vast numbers of learned, arbitrary signal-meaning mappings but also many complex signal-meaning mappings that are systematically related to each other (i.e. not arbitrary). Although arbitrariness and systematicity are clearly related, the development of the two in communication systems has been explored independently. We present an experiment in which participants invent signs from scratch to refer to a set of real concepts that share semantic features. Through interaction, the systematic re-use of arbitrary elements emerges. ",

author = "Theisen, {Carrie Ann} and Jon Oberlander and Simon Kirby",

year = "2009",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780976831953",

pages = "1971--1976",

editor = "Niels Taatgen and {van Rijn}, Hedderik",

booktitle = "CogSci 2009 Proceedings",

publisher = "Cognitive Science Society",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems

AU - Theisen, Carrie Ann

AU - Oberlander, Jon

AU - Kirby, Simon

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - Human languages include vast numbers of learned, arbitrary signal-meaning mappings but also many complex signal-meaning mappings that are systematically related to each other (i.e. not arbitrary). Although arbitrariness and systematicity are clearly related, the development of the two in communication systems has been explored independently. We present an experiment in which participants invent signs from scratch to refer to a set of real concepts that share semantic features. Through interaction, the systematic re-use of arbitrary elements emerges.

AB - Human languages include vast numbers of learned, arbitrary signal-meaning mappings but also many complex signal-meaning mappings that are systematically related to each other (i.e. not arbitrary). Although arbitrariness and systematicity are clearly related, the development of the two in communication systems has been explored independently. We present an experiment in which participants invent signs from scratch to refer to a set of real concepts that share semantic features. Through interaction, the systematic re-use of arbitrary elements emerges.

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9780976831953

SP - 1971

EP - 1976

BT - CogSci 2009 Proceedings

A2 - Taatgen, Niels

A2 - van Rijn, Hedderik

PB - Cognitive Science Society

ER -

Systematicity and arbitrariness in novel communication systems

Abstract

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this