How does language evolve as a multi-level system? A quantitative exploration of written Chinese

IF 1.7 2区 文学 Q2 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH Language Sciences Pub Date : 2023-07-01 DOI:10.1016/j.langsci.2023.101554
Heng Chen, Yaqin Wang
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Hierarchy has been described as the backbone of a language system. However, how language evolves as a multi-level system has not been explored quantitatively based on authentic language materials. The Menzerath–Altmann law (MAL) is a statistical linguistic universal that can capture the complex relationships between language units at neighboring levels. Using the MAL, the present study explored the evolution of two regularly examined partial hierarchies in written Chinese, i.e., “clause-word-character” and “sentence-clause-word” across five periods of two millennia. The results indicate that the hierarchy in the Pre-Qin Period (Period 1) is quite different from the others since its linguistic units of character and word overlap to some extent. The two partial hierarchies show opposite evolutionary trends in the following four periods. The hierarchy fades at the “clause-word-character” levels. Nevertheless, it increases significantly at the “sentence-clause-word” levels. The evolutions are accompanied by a constant increase in word length and accelerated growth in clause length and sentence length/complexity. The findings are finally explained from the perspective of the Complex Adaptive System (CAS) theory.

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语言作为一个多层次的系统是如何发展的?汉语书面语的定量探索
层次结构被描述为语言系统的主干。然而,语言作为一个多层次的系统是如何演变的,还没有基于真实的语言材料进行定量的探索。Menzerath–Altmann定律(MAL)是一种统计语言学的普遍定律,可以捕捉相邻级别的语言单元之间的复杂关系。利用MAL,本研究探讨了汉语书面语中两个定期检验的部分层次,即“从句-词-字”和“句-从句-词”在两千年的五个时期中的演变。结果表明,先秦时期(第一时期)的等级制度与其他时期的等级制度有很大的不同,因为其语言单位的字和词在一定程度上重叠。在接下来的四个时期中,这两个部分等级显示出相反的进化趋势。层次结构在“子句单词字符”级别逐渐消失。然而,它在“句子-子句-单词”层面上显著增加。这种演变伴随着单词长度的不断增加,从句长度和句子长度/复杂性的加速增长。最后从CAS理论的角度对研究结果进行了解释。
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来源期刊
Language Sciences
Language Sciences Multiple-
CiteScore
2.90
自引率
0.00%
发文量
38
期刊介绍: Language Sciences is a forum for debate, conducted so as to be of interest to the widest possible audience, on conceptual and theoretical issues in the various branches of general linguistics. The journal is also concerned with bringing to linguists attention current thinking about language within disciplines other than linguistics itself; relevant contributions from anthropologists, philosophers, psychologists and sociologists, among others, will be warmly received. In addition, the Editor is particularly keen to encourage the submission of essays on topics in the history and philosophy of language studies, and review articles discussing the import of significant recent works on language and linguistics.
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