Lingodroids to create a language of their own

Remember the time when you were three and how every object had a name created by that unhindered head of yours. But alas! For you were soon made to bid farewell to your fantasy land and learn the words spoon-fed to you by others. It indeed was a tough life for us! However, recently researchers at the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology have created a pair of robots who speak a language of their own – just the way you did with your imaginary mates, eons ago.

robots create language

Through this project, the researchers are trying to unravel the mystery behind the evolution of language through generations. The lingodroids, as these tiny bots are affectionately called, are learning to create a dictionary of their own through a series of location language games.

The system consists of a mobile platform that has been equipped with a camera, a laser range finder, and a sonar setup that allows for the mapping and avoidance of obstacle. In order to allow them to talk, they are also equipped with a microphone and speakers.

They create words, not very unlike the way we created our own words as kids. The speaker robot, after getting a confirmation from his hearing counterpart, creates a new word, with the help of the lexicon, which pertains to his location and shares it with the second robot. Both agents then update their representations and lexicon.

The study also claims to have been successful in finding the reasons behind the language change happening over the period and also demonstrates that the rate of language change depends on learning periods and concept formation. To know more about the research paper click here

Via: Physorg