Modelos matemáticos e substitución lingüística

• Main Author: Johannes Kabatek
• Format: Article
• Language: Catalan
• Published: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela 2012-01-01
• Series: Estudos de Linguistica Galega
• Online Access: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=305626425003

This paper presents a critical review of several recent studies that aim to model language contact, language shift and language death mathematically. We will present the models proposed by Abrams & Strogatz 2003, Mira & Paredes 2005, Mira, Seoane & Nieto 2011, Minett & Wang 2007 and Castelló (2010), as well as Castelló et al. (2012). These papers refer to different contact situations, including Galician-Spanish language contact. The different models and corresponding algorithms will be described and critiqued, distinguishing several degrees of sophistication and adequacy. The study identifies a series of shortcomings, particularly in Abrams & Strogatz’ and Mira & Paredes’ papers: data problems, argumentative and logical errors, and also inadequate simplifications. Nevertheless, it will be argued that the more sophisticated models in particular should continue to be developed, and a “heuristic spiral” between model developers and sociolinguists ought to be pursued, in order to achieve better models and greater insight into the mechanisms involved in language change and language shift.