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Section 1, Chapter 5, The development of language: a method for experimentation

Most hypotheses on evolution are verified through analysis of historical records. There are also hypotheses based on analyses of intraspecies and interspecies comparisons. We have experimented with plants for thousands of years. There are relatively few experiments with animals, mostly with species where the intergenerational period is very short, and where such experimentation is ethically acceptable.

Most computational (functional simnulation) models of language focus on communication between individuals (what we call outer language). These models investigate language competence and use somewhat later in life, i.e. after the period when the grammar, correct pronounciation, writing and concepts are being learned. There is childhood development work on learning (outer) language, with much of it focused on the correct use of concepts.

We propose a very different approach, based on diversity and selection.

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