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[Angelo Cangelosi]

Connection Science Journal
<http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/09540091.asp>

Call for Papers

A Special Issue on
'The Emergence of Language: Neural and Adaptive Agent Models
<http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/research/ABC/EmergenceLanguage/> '

Guest Editor: Angelo Cangelosi

Connection Science is calling papers for a special issue entitled 'The
Emergence of Language: Neural and Adaptive Agent Models'.
Studies of the emergence of language focus on the evolutionary and/or
developmental factors that affect the acquisition and auto-organisation
of a linguistic communication system. Both language-specific abilities
(e.g. speech, semantics, syntax) and other cognitive, sensorimotor and
social abilities (e.g. category learning, action and embodiment, social
networks) contribute to the emergence of language.

Key research issues and topics in the area include:
*         Emergentism as an alternative to the nativism/empiricism dichotomy
*         Identification of basic processes producing language complexity
*         Grammaticalization and emergence of syntax
*         Emergent models of language acquisition
*         Evolution and origins of language
*         Pidgin, creole and second language acquisition
*         Neural bases of emergent language processes
*         Auto-organization of shared lexicons in groups of
	  individuals/agents
*         Grounding of symbols and language in perception and action

The main aims of this special issue are to foster interdisciplinary and
multi-methodological approaches to modelling the emergence of language,
and to identify key research directions for the future. Models based on
neural networks (connectionism, computational neuroscience) and adaptive
agent methodologies (artificial life, multi-agent systems, robotics), or
integrated neural/agent approaches, are particularly encouraged.

The submitted papers are expected to: (i) focus on one or more related
research issues (see list above), (ii) explain the importance of the
topic, the open problems and the different approaches discussed in the
literature, (iii) discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the neural and
adaptive agent approaches with respect to other methodologies (including
experimental research) and (iv) present original models and/or
significant new results. Review papers may also be considered.



Invited Papers



The special issue will include two invited papers, one from Brian
MacWhinney (Carnegie Mellon University) and one from Luc Steels (VUB
University Brussels and SONY Computer Labs Paris). The invited papers
are:

*         Brian MacWhinney <http://psyling.psy.cmu.edu/brian/> ,
'Emergent Linguistic Structures and the Problem of Time' (focus on
neural network modeling)

*         Luc Steels <http://arti.vub.ac.be/~steels/> , 'Mirror Learning
and the Self-Organisation of Languages' (focus on adaptive agent
modeling)



Submission Instructions and Deadline



Manuscripts, either full papers or shorter research notes (up to 4000
words), following the Connection Science guidelines
(http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/ccosauth.asp
<http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/authors/ccosauth.asp> ) should be
emailed to the guest editor (acangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk) by December 1,
2004. Reviews will be completed by March 1, 2005, and final drafts will
be accepted no later than May 1, 2005. The special issue will be
published in September 2005.



Guest Editor


Angelo Cangelosi <http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/staff/angelo>
Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition Research Group
<http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/research/ABC/>
School of Computing, Communication & Electronics

University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1752 232559

Fax: +44 (0) 1752 232540

E-mail: acangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk


http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/research/ABC/EmergenceLanguage/





Related and Sample Papers



Cangelosi, A., and Parisi, D., 1998, The emergence of a 'language' in an
evolving population of neural networks. Connection Science, 10(2):
83-97.

Cangelosi, A., and Parisi, D., 2004, The processing of verbs and nouns
in neural networks: Insights from synthetic brain imaging. Brain and
Language, 89(2): 401-408.

Elman, J.L, 1999, The emergence of language: A conspiracy theory. In B.
MacWhinney (ed.), Emergence of Language (Hillsdale, NJ: LEA).

Knight, C., Hurford, J.R., and Studdert-Kennedy, M., (eds), 2000, The
evolutionary emergence of language: social function and the origins of
linguistic form (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

MacWhinney, B., 1998, Models of the emergence of language. Annual Review
of Psychology, 49: 199-227.

Plunkett, K., Sinha, C., Moller, M. F., and Strandsry, O., 1992, Symbol
grounding or the emergence of symbols? Vocabulary growth in children and
a connectionist net. Connection Science, 4(3-4): 293-312.

Roy, D., and Pentland, A., 2002, Learning words from sights and sounds:
A computational model, Cognitive Science, 26: 113-146.

Steels, L., 2003, Evolving grounded communication for robots. Trends in
Cognitive Sciences, 7(7): 308-312.

Wermter, S., Elshaw, M., and Farrand, S., 2003, A modular approach to
self-organization of robot control based on language instruction.
Connection Science, 15(2-3): 73-94.



---------------- Angelo Cangelosi, PhD ----------------


Reader in Artificial Intelligence and Cognition
Adaptive Behaviour and Cognition Research Group
School of Computing, Communication & Electronics
University of Plymouth
Portland Square Building (A316)
Plymouth PL4 8AA (UK)

E-mail: acangelosi at plymouth.ac.uk
http://www.tech.plym.ac.uk/soc/staff/angelo

(tel) +44 1752 232559 (fax) +44 1752 232540