Origin and Evolution of Languages - Approaches, Models, Paradigms - Bernard Laks
Simulating the expansion of farming and the differentiation of European languages
Origin and Evolution of Languages - Approaches, Models, Paradigms - Bernard Laks
Domenico Parisi
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council
Francesco Antinucci
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council
Francesco Natale
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council
Federico Cecconi
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Counci
Description
In this chapter we will first briefly present a simulation based on a cellular automaton that tries to reproduce (explain) the expansion of the Neo-Assyrian empire in the Ancient Near East but we will dedicate most of the chapter to describing a simulation model of the expansion of farming in Ancient Europe with possible links to the origin and differentiation of European languages. In both cases our main goal is methodological, i.e., to illustrate the potential of simulations as a research tool in the social and historical sciences, not to claim the validity of any particular model which may seem to be supported by the simulations.