English

Dynamics of two languages competing on a network: a case study

Pattern Formation and Solitons 2021-02-16 v1

Abstract

A language dynamics model on a square lattice, which is an extension of the one popularized by Abrams and Strogatz [1], is analyzed using ODE bifurcation theory. For this model we are interested in the existence and spectral stability of structures such as stripes, which are realized through pulses and/or the concatenation of fronts, and spots, which are a contiguous collection of sites in which one language is dominant. Because the coupling between sites is nonlinear, the boundary between sites containing speaking two different languages is "sharp"; in particular, in a PDE approximation it allows for the existence of compactly supported pulses (compactons). The dynamics are considered as a function of the prestige of a language. In particular, it is seen that as the prestige varies, it allows for a language to spread through the network, or conversely for its demise.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2102.07220,
  title  = {Dynamics of two languages competing on a network: a case study},
  author = {T. Kapitula and P. G. Kevrekidis},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2102.07220},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

22 pages, 14 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T23:08:54.338Z