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Evolution of Communication and Language in Embodied Agents pp 263–281Cite as

Mathematical Modeling of Language Games

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Abstract

In this chapter we explore several language games of increasing complexity. We first consider the so-called Naming Game, possibly the simplest example of the complex processes leading progressively to the establishment of human-like languages. In this framework, a globally shared vocabulary emerges as a result of local adjustments of individual word-meaning association. The emergence of a common vocabulary only represents a first stage while it is interesting to investigate the emergence of higher forms of agreement, e.g., compositionality, categories, syntactic or grammatical structures. As an example in this direction we consider the so-called Category Game. Here one focuses on the process by which a population of individuals manages to categorize a single perceptually continuous channel. The problem of the emergence of a discrete shared set of categories out of a continuous perceptual channel is a notoriously difficult problem relevant for color categorization, vowels formation, etc. The central result here is the emergence of a hierarchical category structure made of two distinct levels: a basic layer, responsible for fine discrimination of the environment, and a shared linguistic layer that groups together perceptions to guarantee communicative success.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Fisica, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Vittorio Loreto & Andrea Puglisi

  2. ISI Foundation, Viale Settimio Severo 65, 10133, Villa Gualino, Turin, Italy

    Vittorio Loreto

  3. Departament de Física i Enginyeria Nuclear, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Campus Nord B4, 08034, Barcelona, Spain

    Andrea Baronchelli

  4. CNR (INFM-SMC and ISC), Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Puglisi

Authors
  1. Vittorio Loreto
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  2. Andrea Baronchelli
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  3. Andrea Puglisi
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Correspondence to Vittorio Loreto .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. e Tecnologie della Cognizione, CNR Roma, ISTC - Ist. Scienze, Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Roma, 00185, Italy

    Stefano Nolfi

  2. e Tecnologie della Cognizione, CNR Roma, ISTC - Ist. Scienze, Via San Martino della Battaglia 44, Roma, 00185, Italy

    Marco Mirolli

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Loreto, V., Baronchelli, A., Puglisi, A. (2010). Mathematical Modeling of Language Games. In: Nolfi, S., Mirolli, M. (eds) Evolution of Communication and Language in Embodied Agents. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01250-1_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-01250-1_15

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