%0 Journal Article %1 plotkin00 %A Plotkin, Joshua B. %A Nowak, Martin A. %D 2000 %J Journal of Theoretical Biology %K RMP_CFL evolution nowak plotkin 2000 information-theory language %N 1 %P 147--159 %R 10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053 %T Language Evolution and Information Theory %U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WMD-45CWWWR-4N/2/730acfe0f8706b2e4cf6ed2543830097 %V 205 %X This paper places models of language evolution within the framework of information theory. We study how signals become associated with meaning. If there is a probability of mistaking signals for each other, then evolution leads to an error limit: increasing the number of signals does not increase the fitness of a language beyond a certain limit. This error limit can be overcome by word formation: a linear increase of the word length leads to an exponential increase of the maximum fitness. We develop a general model of word formation and demonstrate the connection between the error limit and Shannon's noisy coding theorem.

@article{plotkin00, abstract = {This paper places models of language evolution within the framework of information theory. We study how signals become associated with meaning. If there is a probability of mistaking signals for each other, then evolution leads to an error limit: increasing the number of signals does not increase the fitness of a language beyond a certain limit. This error limit can be overcome by word formation: a linear increase of the word length leads to an exponential increase of the maximum fitness. We develop a general model of word formation and demonstrate the connection between the error limit and Shannon's noisy coding theorem.}, added-at = {2007-01-04T16:51:08.000+0100}, author = {Plotkin, Joshua B. and Nowak, Martin A.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2a27cc747fda5ee78d815c8747cd22e54/vittorio.loreto}, citeulike-article-id = {970701}, doi = {10.1006/jtbi.2000.2053}, interhash = {de9eca29415c2b956592faa6edd31319}, intrahash = {a27cc747fda5ee78d815c8747cd22e54}, journal = {Journal of Theoretical Biology}, keywords = {RMP_CFL evolution nowak plotkin 2000 information-theory language}, month = {July}, number = 1, pages = {147--159}, priority = {4}, timestamp = {2007-01-04T16:51:08.000+0100}, title = {Language Evolution and Information Theory}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WMD-45CWWWR-4N/2/730acfe0f8706b2e4cf6ed2543830097}, volume = 205, year = 2000 }