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Satterfield, T. (2000) The Socio-Genetic Solution: A New Look At Language Genesis Through Swarm Modeling. Technical report, Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan.
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Paper at a Glance 

THE SOCIO­GENETIC SOLUTION: A NEW LOOK AT LANGUAGE GENESIS
THROUGH SWARM MODELING
TERESA SATTERFIELD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 
Abstract Creole languages have long been a point of contention in linguistic circles. Broadly defined, creoles are grammars resulting from an amalgamation of two or more languages, such as when speakers of differing mother tongues find a need for rudimentary communication during economic or social transactions. Creolization occurs if the ``invented'' system becomes the native language of the speech community. There are several hypotheses for how linguistic properties and social contact each came to bear on the formation of creole languages in past centuries; however until recently no reliable method for testing these complex interactions existed. By building agent­based `societies,' it becomes possible to examine premises of linguistic theory and to reconstruct historical contexts, with an eye to isolating patterns and factors that are most relevant to the acquisition and transmission of languages. Implementing SWARM 2.1.1, the current model consists of a multi­agent population drawn from historical records of Surinamese sugar cane plantations (Arends 1995). Each agent is endowed with a demographic profile and linguistic parameters. Linguistic features include a set of genetic constraints stipulating the environmental conditions required for successful analysis and acquisition of any language. Three experiments using the Swarm model are described. The results provide viable motivation for advancing a ``socio­genetic'' solution for the emergence of prototypical creole languages.
INTRODUCTION This paper simulates a language formation process known as creolization, using a computer program that tracks `speaker­agents' who enter and emerge from the learning environment. Throughout history, creole languages have arisen only in restricted social contexts, during trade transactions, or under circumstances of upheaval such as ...
BibTex
@techreport{satterfield00theSocio,
  author={Teresa Satterfield},
  title={The Socio-Genetic Solution: A New Look At Language Genesis Through Swarm Modeling},
  year={2000},
  institution={Center for the Study of Complex Systems, University of Michigan},
  note={CSCS-2000-007},
  url={http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/satterfield00theSocio.html}
}

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