Abstract
The evolutionary theory of language predicts that a language will tend towards fewer synonyms for a given object. We subject this and related predictions to empirical tests, using data from the eBay Big Data Lab which let us access all records of the words used by eBay vendors in their item titles, and by consumers in their searches. We find support for the predictions of the evolutionary theory of language. In particular, the mapping from object to words sharpens over time on both sides of the market, i.e. among consumers and among vendors. In addition, the word mappings used on the two sides of the market become more similar over time. Our research contributes to the literature on language evolution by reporting results of a truly unique large-scale empirical study.
Highlights
Social and economic conventions are widespread [1, 2]
We find support for the predictions of the evolutionary theory of language
We report empirical evidence for specific predictions regarding the emergence of naming conventions in an economic setting, as predicted by evolutionary theory
Summary
Social and economic conventions are widespread [1, 2]. A convention is a pattern of behavior to which everyone conforms, and expects others to conform [3]. The distribution will sharpen, as a larger proportion of the population uses the same word for that object [23] Versions of this prediction have been tested in small laboratory studies, but to our knowledge, no evidence from real data has ever been presented in support of this most basic prediction of evolutionary theories of language. The evolutionary model implies that words that were popularly used by vendors for a given object at time t − 1 are more likely to be used by consumers for that object at time t, and vice versa This prediction directly reflects the theorized mechanism that leads to all the other results, i.e. tighter word distributions within each side of the market, and more similar word distributions between the two sides. By addressing methodological issues, we help advance the empirical study of evolutionary theories of conventions
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