Propagation of Change: Computational Models

Linguistic propagation occurs when one linguistic variant replaces another, or several others, over time. Evolutionary dynamics provides a formal framework in which to describe and model processes of propagation; employing this framework, we provide an overview of computational models of propagation which have been proposed in the literature. These range from simple phenomenological models to more complex models that take geographical space or social structure into account; both constant‐fitness models and models involving frequency‐dependent selection are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the epistemological role mechanistic models play as formal apparatuses which can derive (not just describe) large‐scale regularities of language variation and change from underlying first principles.