This paper presents computational experi- ments that illustrate how one can precisely conceptu- alize language evolution as a Darwinian process. We show that there is potentially a wide diversity of rep- licating units and replication mechanisms involved in language evolution. Computational experiments allow us to study systemic properties coming out of popula- tions of linguistic replicators: linguistic replicators can adapt to specific external environments; they evolve under the pressure of the cognitive constraints of their hosts, as well as under the functional pressure of communication for which they are used; one can ob- serve neutral drift; coalitions of replicators may ap- pear, forming higher level groups which can themselves become subject to competition and selection.
['Pierre-Yves Oudeyer', 'Frédéric Kaplan']
Language evolution as a Darwinian process: computational studies.