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SUMMARY:Learning theory and language change: the evolution of phonological
  scope - Bert Vaux and Yining Nie\, DTAL
DTSTART:20131024T150000Z
DTEND:20131024T163000Z
UID:TALK48230@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Madeleine Forbes
DESCRIPTION:Language acquisition algorithms tend to cluster around the two
  logical end points of a data-fitting scale: conservative models such as t
 hose employing the Subset Principle (Berwick 1985) and the Size Principle 
 (Tenenbaum and Griffiths 2001) maintain that learners cling as closely as 
 possible to positive data exemplars\, whereas aggressive models such as th
 e one assumed in the Sound Pattern of English (Chomsky and Halle 1968) hol
 d that learners postulate the simplest and broadest-scoped generalizations
  compatible with the observed data. \n\nIn this talk we demonstrate using 
 phonological examples that these two classes of learning algorithm make te
 stably different predictions about the possible range of historical change
 s\, and we compare these predictions to the empirical record. The availabl
 e diachronic facts are shown to primarily involve scope expansion\, which 
 is more consistent with the predictions of the aggressive algorithms. \n
LOCATION:Room GR06/07\, Faculty of English\, Sidgwick Site\, West Road\, C
 ambridge
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