The origin of syntax is one of the most challenging questions in
science. Our approach to this question has been similar to the
approach we have taken to study the emergence of sound systems,
meaning repertoires and lexicons. We model a population of agents,
situated in a world, that -- by learning from each other -- together
create a communication system aimed at transmitting knowledge about
that world.
We have studied in different models the following aspects:
- The emergence of a shared lexicon for multiple word utterances;
- The emergence of syntactic categories;
- The creation of hierarchical semantic descriptions;
- The use and implementation of compositional grammars, that map
complex meanings on grammatical sentences and v.v.;
- The emergence of morphological markers;
- Grammar induction;
- Language adaptation in "iterated learning";
- Natural selection of grammars.
We are currently working on integrating several components into a
system that shows the emergence of a syntactic language in a
population, under realistic cognitive and environmental
constraints. Although at this point the results are still diverse and
limited to only certain aspects of syntax, we do believe they lend
support to our working hypothesis: syntactic language emerged from the
same processes that still operate in human communication, and much
less "innate" knowledge of language is necessary than is usually
assumed.
