Computer models of language acquisition

摘要

Since the method of computer simulation was introduced to the study of human behavior, a number of computer models of language acquisition have been proposed and implemented on a computer system. Because of varied purposes of simulation and diverse theoretical backgrounds of the model builders, there are notable dissimilarities among the models. This paper reviews the existing computer models of language acquisition. The comparison is done in terms of the basic components of the models: (a) input to the computer system, (b) how linguistic knowledge and the process of learning are represented, and (c) what is initially built into the system and what is learned. Based on the review, the potential usefulness of the computer simulation methods in the area of child language is dicussed.