Computational modelling of language acquisition: an introduction

Abstract

One approach to studying how children acquire language is to simulate language acquisition through computational modelling. Computational models implement theories of language acquisition and simulation outcomes can then be tested against existing real-world data or in new empirical research. It is more than ten years ago that Journal of Child Language published a special issue on the topic, edited and introduced by Brian MacWhinney (MacWhinney, 2010). Now is thus a good time to take stock of recent developments by bringing together a collection of articles that explore recent research and insights from computational modelling of child language acquisition.