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Simulating the syntax and semantics of linguistic constructions about time

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Book cover Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture

Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library A: ((TDLA,volume 39))

Abstract

In this paper we motivate and report on the implementation of a computer experiment to investigate the syntax and semantics of linguistic constructions about time. It is argued that the way in which a domain like time is conceptualized is not universal and evolves over time. To investigate this we want to simulate a population of agents evolving their proper language and ontology of time in order to succeed in communicating temporal information. Such simulations can be done using a formalism proposed by Steels (2004). Some advances in applying the formalism to the domain of time are reported and examples of actual simulations are presented.

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De Beule, J. (2006). Simulating the syntax and semantics of linguistic constructions about time. In: Gontier, N., Van Bendegem, J.P., Aerts, D. (eds) Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture. Theory and Decision Library A:, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3395-8_18

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