Naming Game

Problemas de consenso são problemas em que tem-se por objetivo atingir um acordo com relação à quantidade de interesse, que pode depender do estado de todas as entidades envolvidas na negociação. O modelo estudado no presente trabalho é o Naming Game e uma combinação de duas variações do mesmo. O Naming Game é um jogo baseado em linguagem e comunicação em que os agentes interagem para obter consenso em relação ao nome de um objeto. Com mudanças na dinâmica de negociação entre os agentes, o novo modelo introduz não-determinismo na atualização das memórias locais dos agentes através da introdução de memória compartilhada e de reputação para os agentes. Como os agentes utilizam somente negociações locais entre pares e conseguem chegar a um consenso sem controle centralizado, os sistemas podem ser considerados sistemas auto-organizados.

We examine an evolutionary naming-game model where communicating agents are equipped with an evolutionarily selected learning ability. Such a coupling of biological and linguistic ingredients results in an abrupt transition: upon a small change of a model control parameter a poorly communicating group of linguistically unskilled agents transforms into almost perfectly communicating group with large learning abilities. When learning ability is kept fixed, the transition appears to be continuous. Genetic imprinting of the learning abilities proceeds via Baldwin effect: initially unskilled communicating agents learn a language and that creates a niche in which there is an evolutionary pressure for the increase of learning ability.Our model suggests that when linguistic (or cultural) processes became intensive enough, a transition took place where both linguistic performance and biological endowment of our species experienced an abrupt change that perhaps triggered the rapid expansion of human civilization.

Computational modelling with multi-agent systems is becoming an important technique of studying language evolution. We present a brief introduction into this rapidly developing field, as well as our own contributions that include an analysis of the evolutionary naming-game model. In this model communicating agents, that try to establish a common vocabulary, are equipped with an evolutionarily selected learning ability. Such a coupling of biological and linguistic ingredients results in an abrupt transition: upon a small change of the model control parameter a poorly communicating group of linguistically unskilled agents transforms into almost perfectly communicating group with large learning abilities. Genetic imprinting of the learning abilities proceeds via Baldwin effect: initially unskilled communicating agents learn a language and that creates a niche in which there is an evolutionary pressure for the increase of learning ability. Under the assumption that communication intensity increases continuously with finite speed, the transition is split into several transition-like changes. It shows that the speed of cultural changes, that sets an additional characteristic timescale, might be yet another factor affecting the evolution of language. In our opinion, this model shows that linguistic and biological processes have a strong influence on each other and this effect certainly has contributed to an explosive development of our species.

Jak powstał język – ten unikalny, charakterystyczny dla człowieka system komunikacji? Badaniem tego zagadnienia zajmuje się stosunkowo nowa, lecz prężnie się rozwijająca nauka: ewolucja języka.  Jest to interdyscyplinarna dziedzina,  integrująca wiedzę różnych nauk o człowieku, jego biologii, kulturze i języku, korzystająca również z osiągnięć nauk przyrodniczych i ścisłych. Niniejsza monografia przedstawia zastosowanie modelowania komputerowego do badania zagadnienia powstania i rozwoju języka, w szczególności zaś wykorzystanie do tego celu gier językowych oraz systemów wieloagentowych. Przeprowadzając komputerowe symulacje, bada się, w jaki sposób populacja odrębnych osobników nie dysponujących jeszcze wspólnym językiem, wyłącznie w toku wzajemnych interakcji komunikacyjnych, jest w stanie osiągnąć konsensus co do stosowanego w całej populacji zestawu lingwistycznych konwencji, np. nazw. Zalążek języka wyłania się więc tu jako konsekwencja oddziaływań między osobnikami. Modelowanie komputerowe jest znakomitym narzędziem do badań tego rodzaju zjawisk.