Variation, Selection, Development

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explores language change through an evolutionary lens. It investigates whether concepts such as variation, selection, and competition can be effectively applied to language development. The volume integrates mathematical models and simulations that analyze competition-driven language changes, aligning predicted trends with observed data to assess the relevance of evolutionary models in linguistics. It juxtaposes these theoretical frameworks with empirical studies on creolization and historical language change, examining how linguistic constructions survive competition and the distinct factors influencing creolization compared to typical language evolution. Additionally, the authors explore the connections between linguistic competence and fundamental cognitive abilities. Contributions from various scholars enrich the discourse, employing methods from artificial intelligence and artificial life alongside traditional historical linguistics and creolization research. This multidisciplinary approach aims to deepen our understanding of language evolution and the structural differences between Creole languages and their older counterparts.