Call deadline: 15 May 2011
Event Dates: 8 August 2011
Event Location: Paris, France
Event URL: http://www.fcg-net.org/events/AAALE_2011.html

This workshop brings together researchers that are attempting to simulate the emergence and cultural evolution of communication systems with properties similar to those found in human natural languages. The workshop focuses in particular on experiments that use physically embodied humanoid robots and target communication systems that exhibit grammatical structure and involve rich grounded conceptualizations of the world co-evolving with language. A typical example would be an experiment in which autonomous robots evolve a spatial language to express spatial relations and perspective reversal or an experiment in which a case grammar emerges for expressing the role of participants in events, or an experiment in which a system of determiners arises to refer to sets of objects in the shared context of two situated communicating agents.

Call for Contributions

Contributions are solicited on all aspects of this grand challenge. They should preferably be based on mechanisms that have been effectively implemented and demonstrated to work on real robots. Although aspects of perception and motor control are obviously very relevant to evolve grounded language, the workshop will primarily focus on issues related to conceptualization and grammar, and to models of cultural evolution that are effective for explaining the complexity of human languages. Experiments that simulate or relate to phenomena observed in human language evolution are particularly encouraged. Posters may include robot videos and demonstrations with physical robots are welcome.

More specifically, submissions are solicited on the following topics:

- Systems for conceptualization, grounded in sensori-motor experience
- Co-evolution of category formation and lexicon formation
- Computational formalisms supporting emergent grammar
- Factors driving the cultural emergence of grammatical systems
- Mechanisms for conceptual and linguistic alignment
- Origins and stabilization of language strategies
- Competition and coordination between language strategies
- Autonomous evolution of scripts for language games
- Semiotic dynamics of embodied agents
- Origins of speech systems

These topics should as much as possible be grounded in case studies.

Call deadline: 1 May 2011
Event Dates: 29 June -03 July 2011
Event Location: Montpellier, France
Event URL: http://www.hbes2011.univ-montp2.fr/index.php

The 23nd annual meetings of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society will be held at Montpellier, France from June 29th to July 3rd, 2011. 

Along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in southern France, Montpellier has everything it takes to please. A lively and surprising city in the heart of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, Montpellier is vibrant, elegant and artistic. People are drawn here by the city's rich past, former and contemporary glory, intense cultural life and youthful feel. Its sunny climate and well-preserved historical environment are second to none, nestled between the sea, vineyards and mountain landscapes. As a result of Montpellier's long university tradition, nearly 70,000 students reside in the immediate area. Because of this youthful influence, or rather thanks to it, there is an abundance of festivals, cafés and other encounters just waiting to happen. Known internationally for its world-class medical schools, whose long-standing tradition dates back the middle ages, Montpellier is well practiced in the art of welcoming people.

We are pleased to announce that this year's Keynote Address will be presented by Randy Nesse, and that Plenary Speakers include Samuel Bowles, Sarah Hdry; Jean-Marie Hombert, Tim Clutton-Brock, Frank Marlowe and Andrew Whiten.