Abstract
This study examines the intergenerational transfer of human communication systems. It tests if human communication systems evolve to be easy to learn or easy to use (or both), and how population size affects learnability and usability. Using an experimental-semiotic task, we find that human communication systems evolve to be easier to use (production efficiency and reproduction fidelity), but harder to learn (identification accuracy) for a second generation of naïve participants. Thus, usability trumps learnability. In addition, the communication systems that evolve in larger populations exhibit distinct advantages over those that evolve in smaller populations: the learnability loss (from the Initial signs) is more muted and the usability benefits are more pronounced. The usability benefits for human communication systems that evolve in a small and large population is explained through guided variation reducing sign complexity. The enhanced performance of the communication systems that evolve in larger populations is explained by the operation of a content bias acting on the larger pool of competing signs. The content bias selects for information-efficient iconic signs that aid learnability and enhance usability.
Highlights
Human communication systems such as language evolve, and socio-cultural processes play a crucial role [1,2]
We examine the effect of population size on the learnability and usability of the evolved communication systems
First we review artificial language learning studies that suggest that human communication systems primarily evolve to be learnable
Summary
Human communication systems such as language evolve, and socio-cultural processes play a crucial role [1,2]. In this paper we use an experimental approach to test if human communication systems culturally evolve to be acquired by later generations. We examine the effect of population size on the learnability and usability of the evolved communication systems. First we review artificial language learning studies that suggest that human communication systems primarily evolve to be learnable. We review experimental-semiotic studies that suggest that human communication systems primarily evolve to be usable (i.e., efficient to produce and faithfully reproduced). We discuss the effect of population size on the evolution of human communication systems before reporting the results of the present experiment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
