A statistical-physics approach to language acquisition and language change☆

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Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain why Statistical Physics can help understanding two related linguistic questions. The first question is how to model first language acquisition by a child. The second question is how language change proceeds in time.

Our approach is based on a Gibbsian model for the interface between syntax and prosody. We also present a simulated annealing model of language acquisition, which extends the Triggering Learning Algorithm recently introduced in the linguistic literature.

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    Work supported by FAPESP (Projecto Temático Rhytmic patterns, parameter setting and language change, grant 98/3382-0).

    1

    Work partially supported CNPq (grant 301301/79) and FINEP (Núcleo de Excelência “Critical phenomena in probability and stochastic processes”

    2

    Work partially supported by CNPq (grant 301086/85)

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