Prochazka Katharina, Vogl Gero
Dynamics of Condensed Systems, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
Dynamics of Condensed Systems, Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 Apr 25;114(17):4365-4369. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1617252114. Epub 2017 Mar 15.
Many of the world's around 6,000 languages are in danger of disappearing as people give up use of a minority language in favor of the majority language in a process called language shift. Language shift can be monitored on a large scale through the use of mathematical models by way of differential equations, for example, reaction-diffusion equations. Here, we use a different approach: we propose a model for language dynamics based on the principles of cellular automata/agent-based modeling and combine it with very detailed empirical data. Our model makes it possible to follow language dynamics over space and time, whereas existing models based on differential equations average over space and consequently provide no information on local changes in language use. Additionally, cellular automata models can be used even in cases where models based on differential equations are not applicable, for example, in situations where one language has become dispersed and retreated to language islands. Using data from a bilingual region in Austria, we show that the most important factor in determining the spread and retreat of a language is the interaction with speakers of the same language. External factors like bilingual schools or parish language have only a minor influence.
世界上大约6000种语言中的许多都面临消失的危险，因为人们放弃使用少数族裔语言，转而青睐多数族裔语言，这一过程被称为语言转换。例如，通过使用基于微分方程的数学模型，如反应扩散方程，可以大规模监测语言转换。在这里，我们采用了一种不同的方法：我们基于细胞自动机/基于主体的建模原理提出了一个语言动态模型，并将其与非常详细的实证数据相结合。我们的模型能够跟踪语言在空间和时间上的动态变化，而现有的基于微分方程的模型在空间上进行了平均，因此无法提供关于语言使用局部变化的信息。此外，细胞自动机模型甚至可以在基于微分方程的模型不适用的情况下使用，例如，在一种语言已经分散并退缩到语言孤岛的情况下。利用奥地利一个双语地区的数据，我们表明，决定一种语言传播和退缩的最重要因素是与说同一种语言的人的互动。双语学校或教区语言等外部因素的影响很小。
