Physicists are infiltrating linguistics with the interdisciplinary field of language dynamics, applying models from physics to study language evolution and competition. Referee reports have questioned the seriousness of this research, prompting physicists to react – swearing is one option. A study in Japan analyzed the spread of swear words, revealing patterns similar to diffusion. Language dispersal, evolution, and competition are complex areas within language dynamics, often inspired by ecological and genetic models. Gathering linguistic data through social media, physicists can map out cultural regions and track language evolution over time. The hope is for a symbiotic relationship between physics and linguistics to better understand language evolution and preserve linguistic diversity.
https://physicsworld.com/a/the-physics-of-languages/