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Niche as a determinant of word fate in online groups

Abstract

Patterns of word use both reflect and influence a myriad of human activities and interactions. Like other entities that reproduce and evolve, words rise or decline depending upon a complex interplay between fitness and environment. Using Internet discussion communities as model systems, we show that the word niche, defined as the extent of the word's association with specific people and topics, is a strong determinant of changes in word frequency. Previous, a posteriori, studies have indicated that word frequency is a correlate of word success at historical time scales. Our longitudinal analysis reveals that the word niche is far more important than word frequency in the dynamics of the entire vocabulary at shorter time scales, as the language adapts to new concepts and social groupings. We also identify endogenous versus exogenous value as a further component in the fate of words, and demonstrate the force of this distinction in the rise of novel words. Our results indicate that short-term nonstationarity in word statistics is strongly driven by individual proclivities, including inclinations to provide novel information and to project a distinctive social identity.

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