Spreading the word: the physics of how languages evolve, compete and die
Physicists love nothing better than getting involved in other disciplines, seeking to bring rigour to fields like economics or sociology. But they have also been trying to apply physics to linguistics in what’s known as “language dynamics”. This month’s cover feature gives some examples of the work, including studying the movement of swear words across Japan. Also in this issue, Amanda Barnard talks about her work in simulation, Robert P Crease reviews Oliver Stone’s new nuclear movie and James McKenzie looks at what the future holds for Moore’s law.
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