Vogt, P. (2005) Meaning development versus predefined meanings in language evolution models In Proceedings of IJCAI-05 In press. (Copyright IJCAI.)

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of predefining semantics in modelling the evo lution of compositional languages versus allowing agents to develop these semant ics in parallel with the development of language. The study is done using a mult i-agent model of language evolution that is based on the Talking Heads experimen t. The experiments show that when allowing a co-evolution of semantics with lang uage, compositional languages develop faster than when the semantics are predef ined, but compositionality appears more stable in the latter case. The paper con cludes that conclusions drawn from simulations with predefined meanings, which m ost studies use, may need revision.