As evidence from sign languages is increasingly used to investigate the process of language emergence and evolution, it is important to understand the conditions that allow for sign languages to persist. We build on a mathematical model of sign language persistence (i.e. protection from loss) which takes into account the genetic transmission of deafness, the cultural transmission of sign language and marital patterns (Aoki & Feldman, 1991). We use agent-based modeling techniques and draw inspiration from the wealth of genetic and cultural data on the sign language Kata Kolok to move towards a less abstract model of sign language persistence. In a set of experiments we explore how sign language persistence is affected by language transmission types, the distribution of deaf alleles, population size and marital patterns. We highlight the value of using agent-based modeling for this type of research, which allows for the incorporation of real-world data into model development.

随着手语的证据越来越多地用于研究语言出现和发展的过程，重要的是要了解允许手语持续存在的条件。我们建立了手语持久性（即防止丢失）的数学模型，该模型考虑了耳聋的遗传传播，手语的文化传播和婚姻模式（Aoki＆Feldman，1991）。我们使用基于代理的建模技​​术，并从手语Kata Kolok上的大量遗传和文化数据中汲取灵感，以朝着抽象性更小的手语持久性模型发展。在一组实验中，我们探索了手语持久性如何受到语言传播类型，聋人等位基因分布，人口规模和婚姻模式的影响。