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Statistical Physics and the Spatial Evolution of Language

Category
All
Corpus Linguistics
research talks
Date
Date
Thursday 3 November 2022, 14:00
Location
Online via Zoom

‘Statistical Physics and the Spatial Evolution of Language

Dr James Burridge, University of Portsmouth

In statistical physics we build mathematical models of physical systems which contain very large numbers of interacting components. Because language change is the result of interactions between many similar agents, we can describe it using models in the same style. In this talk I will show how spatial linguistic domains can be modelled using ideas from statistical physics, via some simple assumptions about learning and memory. I will show that linguistic boundaries (isoglosses) behave like the surfaces of bubbles, and I will present some possible mathematical explanations for spatial patterns and historical changes in different countries. Modelling of this kind requires large amounts of spatial data, and I will end by discussing some ideas for measuring and collecting vowel sounds.

Online via Zoom (please register)

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