There are at least three components to the dynamics of natural language: learning, communication, and evolution. The research project Social models of Semantics Learning. Acquisition and Evolution of Quantifier Meaning (funded by the NCN OPUS Scheme Grant of dr Nina Gierasimczuk) explores the possibilities of capturing them in a single comprehensive mathematical model, with a special focus on the semantics of quantifier expressions.

During the SoMMA Workshop, which marks the end of this three year endeavour, we want to explore further research avenues and connections between various experimental approaches to formal semantics. The presentations will touch upon social networks, coordination games, iterated learning, language evolution, semantic universals, neural networks, and many others.

Everybody is welcome to attend!

Programme

Thursday, May 23 (room 115)

09:15-09:30: Nina Gierasimczuk (Technical University of Denmark) Opening of the workshop

09:30-10:15: Przemysław Żywiczyński (Nicolaus Copernicus University)
The problem of conventionality and iconicity in gestural scenarios of language emergence

10:15-11:00: Sławomir Wacewicz (Nicolaus Copernicus University, University of Tübingen)
Linguistic politeness as strategic behavior: (some) costs and benefits of polite language use

☕ 11:00-11:30 Coffee break

11:30-12:15: Zoé Christoff (University of Bayreuth)
Logical foundations of social influence & social networks

🍲 12:15-14:00: Lunch

14:00-14:45: Gareth Roberts (University of Pennsylvania)
Experiments in meaning and information

14:45-15:30: Katarzyna Kuś, Bartosz Maćkiewicz & Wojciech Rostworowski (University of Warsaw)
Empirical investigations into the centering theory and role of salience

☕ 15:30-16:00: Coffee break

16:00-16:45: Joanna Rączaszek-Leonardi (University of Warsaw)
From constraining by signs to constraining by relations: Dynamical analysis of semiotic process in development

16:45-17:30: Julian Zubek (University of Warsaw)
Intelligent agents or intelligent designers: computational architectures for social models of language evolution

19:30-… Conference Dinner

Friday, May 24 (room 216)

09:15-10:00: Shane Steinert-Threlkeld & Jakub Szymanik (University of Amsterdam)
Explaining Semantic Universals, I: Learnability

10:00-10:45: Shane Steinert-Threlkeld & Jakub Szymanik (University of Amsterdam)
Explaining Semantic Universals, II: Complexity and Evolution

☕ 10:45-11:15: Coffee break

11:15-12:00: Marieke Schouwstra (University of Edinburgh)
Emerging sign languages in the laboratory: systematicity vs regularity

🍲 12:00-13:45: Lunch

13:45-14:30: Justyna Grudzińska (University of Warsaw)
Scope-taking system with dependent types

14:30-15:15: Dariusz Kalociński (University of Warsaw)
Monotonicity of meaning: between simplicity and expressiveness

15:15-16:00: Franciszek Rakowski (Polish Academy of Sciences, Samsung) tba

16:00-16:15 Closing of the workshop

Venue

The Old Library
University of Warsaw
ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
00-927 Warsaw, Poland

Organization

Nina Gierasimczuk    (Technical University of Denmark)
Dariusz Kalociński    (University of Warsaw)

Sponsors

Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw (grant no. DSM 117900/11)
National Science Centre, Poland (grant no. 2015/19/B/HS1/03292)
DTU Compute