Iterated learning with human subjects : an empirical framework for the emergence and cultural transmission of language

Abstract

The study of language evolution has benefited enormously from the contribution made by computational simulations of the cultural transmission of language over the past ten years. However, we still have not explored or confirmed these findings empirically in a human population. This thesis presents a novel experimental method for investigating the emergence and cultural transmission of language under controlled laboratory settings. By integrating techniques from the modelling of iterated learning, with techniques used to investigate language acquisition via artificial language learning, a suitable empirical framework is created, opening up new avenues of research for understanding human language and culture.