https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-024-00706-3
Regular Article - Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Language dynamics model with finite-range interactions influencing the diffusion of linguistic traits and human dispersal
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Akadeemia tee 23, 12618, Tallinn, Estonia
Received:
28
February
2024
Accepted:
4
May
2024
Published online:
3
June
2024
We study a multi-agent model of language dynamics that incorporates diffusion of linguistic traits and human dispersal, both influenced by local linguistic environment. We assume that each individual is characterized by a string, representing a language in terms of a set of linguistic features. Each individual can interact only with other individuals located within a finite neighborhood. The interaction between two individuals results in copying or passing a linguistic trait; the direction of the learning process is determined by the level of linguistic similarity with the neighborhood, estimated through the average Levenshtein distance. The latter determines also the diffusion coefficient of the random walk performed by the individuals. The dynamics of the model is investigated through numerical simulations over a wide range of parameters. Our results show a rich variety of possible final scenarios, ranging from language segregation and dialects formation to linguistic continua and consensus. The obtained language size distribution, spatial distribution of languages, and the correlation between geographic and linguistic distance at equilibrium resemble well the results observed in real systems.
The original online version of this article was revised: The graphic abstract was missing from this article.
A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/s10051-025-00865-x.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, SIF and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
corrected publication 2025
corrected publication 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
