Statistical physics has proven to be a fruitful framework to describe phenomena outside the
realm of traditional physics. Recent years have witnessed an attempt by physicists to study …

In Europe and throughout the world, competence in English is spreading at a speed never
achieved by any language in human history. This apparently irresistible growing dominance …

This book discusses the study and analysis of the physical aspects of social systems and
models, inspired by the analogy with familiar models of physical systems and possible …

We survey recent computer modelling research of language evolution, focusing on a rule-
based model simulating the lexicon–syntax coevolution and an equation-based model …

Opinions are an integral part of how we perceive the world and each other. They shape
collective action, playing a role in democratic processes, the evolution of norms, and cultural …

We consider an extension of the voter model in which a set of interacting elements (agents)
can be in either of two equivalent states (A or B) or in a third additional mixed (AB) state. The …

'Language shift'is the process whereby members of a community in which more than one
language is spoken abandon their original vernacular language in favour of another. The …

The mathematical model for language competition developed by Abrams and Strogatz
allows the evolution of the numbers of monolingual speakers of two competing languages to …

The book requires only rudimentary physics knowledge but ability to program computers
creatively and to keep the mind open to simple and not so simple models, based in …

In multilingual societies, it is common to encounter different language varieties. Various
approaches have been proposed to discuss different mechanisms of language shift …