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Language Evolution: An NCT and Conlang Framework

Authors: Swathi Sivakumar Menon; Vinod Balakrishnan;

Language Evolution: An NCT and Conlang Framework

Abstract

Decades of scholarly work have displaced previously accepted assumptions of the separation of the cognitive and the cultural as two separate entities. Notably, interventions of scholars such as Bouchard, Arbib, and Odling-Smee, have effectively positioned this older and more archaic thinking. In this paper, we posit that the propensity for constructivism in human languages has not been sufficiently studied. To this end, we propose Niche Construction Theory, a framework with which to address this gap. We also juxtapose natlangs (natural languages) with conlangs (constructed languages) in order to clarify the effectiveness of each. To facilitate this discussion, we propose the following points: Conlang origins are well-known, the study of conlangs has tangible evidence of manipulation of language elements, and the study of conlangs can further our understanding of natlangs. We draw on multiple fields to effect this anthropological study. Our literature in this paper has invited our use of Bouchard’s concept of offline base systems (OBS) to respond to questions of the characteristics and mechanics of language vis-à-vis ethnological work. For this, we turn to issues of embodiment, to then extend this to other consequences of and motives for developing conlangs and hence language evolution, such as language disabilities and impairments, a field which is still in its infancy. A focus on language construction using conlangs to test OBS promises another avenue to explore language evolution.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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