语言模因的进化动力学研究

An Evolutionary Dynamic Approach to Linguistic Memes

从语言进化动力学看,模因是进化稳定策略,相当于Croft的理论框架中的"语素"(lingueme)。模因和语素都是语言进化中被复制和传播的对象。虽然基于模因和语素的理论都有效地解释了语言的传承性和生产性,但未能有效地解释语言创新问题,即突变策略如何成为进化稳定策略,或者任意的信息单位如何成为语素。然而,博弈进化论的框架内,通过说明突变策略成为稳定策略的限制性条件,可以说明语言进化中的语言创新问题。决定语言创新的重要因素是进化的力量,该力量源自个体在道德原则调整下的生存博弈中求生存的动力,是众多个体追求生物、社会和经济效用的合力。语言进化的力量要求,突变策略只有满足策略的复杂性条件才能成为进化稳定策略。

A meme is an evolutionary stable strategy（ESS） in terms of language evolutionary dynamics.It is equivalent to ＇lingueme＇ in Croft＇s usage-based evolutionary framework（Croft,2000,2006）.Both meme and lingueme are objects replicated and propagated in language evolution.The two theories based on meme and lingueme are effective approaches to the stability and reproductivity of language,but they fail to account for the creativity of language,i.e.how a mutant strategy becomes stable,or how an arbitrary information unit becomes a lingueme.The paper,in the framework of game-theoretical evolution,presents an investigation into the conditions under which a mutant meme becomes an ESS.The author holds that the evolutionary force of language plays a decisive role in language creativity.It originates from individual＇s effort to survive in the survival games regulated by moral principles of the language community,and is the resultant force of collective effort to obtain biological,societal,and economical benefit.On this view,a mutant strategy becomes an ESS only if it meets the strategy＇s complexity condition.