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 languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCogSci 2009 Proceedings
EditorsNiels Taatgen, Hedderik van Rijn
PublisherCognitive Science Society
Pages1971-1976
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9780976831953
Publication statusPublished - 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

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