Mathematics of Language – Nov 29

If your native language (Irish, Igbo, Ilocano, . . .) is threatened by competition from another language (likely English!), and if preserving that language is important, what options do you have? Which approach to language preservation is most likely to be effective? Or... How much time do you have before the language is effectively dead? Surprisingly, tools from mathematical ecology, physics, and other seemingly remote fields have been adapted to answer questions about the evolution, competition, and even origin of human languages.

Our speaker, Dr. Ben Ford, is Professor of Mathematics at Sonoma State University. His research background lies in combinatorics and group theory, and he works to further equity in math education.


Dr. Ben Ford

WHAT: The Mathematics of Language
WHO: Dr. Ben Ford, Professor of Mathematics, Sonoma State University
WHERE: HopMonk Tavern, 224 Vintage Way, Novato, CA 94945 [https://www.hopmonk.com/novato]
WHEN: 2022-11-29 — 7pm, Tuesday, Nov 29 (1.5 hour)
HOW:

This unticketed, admission-free, Wonderfest event will be COVID-free, as well. Please be vaccinated, and kindly wear a mask (except when dining/drinking). The warm feeling of Wondernaut(!) camaraderie radiates through masks and across wide seat-spacing. Please join us! Also, kindly consider donating to nonprofit Wonderfest in the Eventbrite space, below. (Ignore any mention of "tickets" or "sales.")