Related links

Authoritative: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0219525909002192   (Publisher's PDF... likely be available here.)

Web search: Google Web Search   ::   Google Scholar

Abstract

Language development in children provides a window to understand the transition from protolanguage to language. Here we present the first analysis of the emergence of syntax in terms of complex networks. A previously unreported, sharp transition is shown to occur around two years of age from a (pre-syntactic) tree-like structure to a scale-free, small world syntax network. The development of these networks thus reveals a nonlinear dynamical pattern where the global topology of syntax graphs shifts from a hierarchical, tree-like pattern, to a scale-free organization. Such change seems difficult to be explained under a self-organization framework. Instead, it actually supports the presence of some underlying innate component, as early suggested by some authors.

Keywords: Language evolution; language acquisition; syntax; complex networks; small worlds

@article{murtra09ontogenyPhaseTransition,
  author={Bernat Corominas-Murtra and Sergi Valverde and Ricard Sole},
  title={The ontogeny of scale-free syntax networks: phase transitions in early language acquisition},
  journal={Advances in Complex Systems},
  year={2009},
  month={Jun},
  volume={12},
  number={3},
  pages={371-392},
  doi={10.1142/S0219525909002192},
  url={http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/murtra09ontogenyPhaseTransition.html},
  keywords={Language evolution; language acquisition; syntax; complex networks; small worlds}
}