Simulating Meaning Negotiation Using Observational Language Games

In this article, we study the emergence of associations between words and concepts using the self-organizing map. In particular, we explore the meaning negotiations among communicating agents. The self-organizing map is used as a model of an agent's conceptual memory. The concepts are not explicitly given but they are learned by the agent in an unsupervised manner. Concepts are viewed as areas formed in a self-organizing map based on unsupervised learning. The language acquisition process is modeled in a population of simulated agents by using a series of language games, specifically observational games. The results of the simulation experiments verify that the agents learn to communicate successfully and a shared lexicon emerges.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: EELC
• Authors: Tiina Lindh-Knuutila, Timo Honkela, Krista Lagus
• Keywords: Agent's Conceptual Memory, EELC 2006, Languages, Self-Organizing Map, Unsupervised Manner