The Origins of Vowel Systems

This book addresses tendencies of human vowel systems from the point of view of self-organization. It uses computer models to show that tendencies of human languages can be reproduced by artificial agents. DeBoer then explores the implications of those results for the evolution of language.

Bart de Boer is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Center for Mind, Brain, and Learning at the University of Washington.

Acknowledgements

ix

List of Figures

xi

List of Tables

xiii

Introduction

1

(5)

Universal Tendencies of Human Sound Systems

6

(18)

Regularities of systems of speech sounds

7

(2)

Regularities of Speech sound sequences

9

(1)

Explanations of regularities based on features

10

(2)

Stevens's quantal theory of speech

12

(1)

The distinctive region model

12

(1)

Predicting sound systems as a whole

13

(2)

How sound systems have become optimized

15

(1)

Glotin's AGORA model

16

(1)

Berrah's ESPECE model

17

(1)

How children learn

18

(6)

Self-Organization

24

(14)

Steels's work

27

(2)

Language as an open, complex dynamic system

29

(2)

Language as an adaptive system

31

(2)

Other mechanisms in the origins of language

33

(3)

Self-organization and understanding the origins of language

36

(2)

The Simulation

38

(17)

The use of computer simulations

38

(2)

Purpose of the simulation

40

(3)

the articulatory model

43

(4)

The perception model

47

(3)

The imitation game

50

(5)

Results

55

(51)

A first example

55

(5)

Analysis of simulation results

60

(11)

An articulatory view of the systems

71

(3)

Variable populations

74

(10)

Human vowel system universals and typology

84

(7)

Relation between systems that emerge from simulations and real systems

91

(12)

Conclusion

103

(3)

Simulated Evolution of Other Parts of Language

106

(18)

Modelling of syntax

107

(3)

Modelling of semantics

110

(4)

Modelling of language dynamics

114

(3)

Experiments with robots

117

(5)

Relation to the work described here

122

(2)

Implications for Other Parts of Language

124

(21)

Interpretation of results

124

(2)

Implications for universals of vowel systems

126

(1)

Self-organization and other aspects of language

127

(8)

Implications for more complex sounds

135

(6)

Relation between sounds and syntax

141

(4)

Bibliography

145

(10)

Index

155

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The Origins of Vowel Systems

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials