Agent-gebaseerde modellering in de historische taalkunde. Een model van regularisatiedruk op de Nederlandse werkwoorden

This article presents an accessible introduction to agent-based modelling for non-computational linguists, more specifically historical linguists, who may find it to be a useful addition to their methodological toolbox. We will discuss both the possibilities and limitations of this technique and in doing so, attempt to show how computational modelling can be complementary with the empirical methods of historical linguists. Furthermore, this paper presents a walkthrough of the various steps in the design of such a model. To serve as an example, we will present a basic agent-based model of the competition between regular and irregular verb inflection in Dutch.