1,956 research outputs found
An Abstract Machine for Unification Grammars
This work describes the design and implementation of an abstract machine,
Amalia, for the linguistic formalism ALE, which is based on typed feature
structures. This formalism is one of the most widely accepted in computational
linguistics and has been used for designing grammars in various linguistic
theories, most notably HPSG. Amalia is composed of data structures and a set of
instructions, augmented by a compiler from the grammatical formalism to the
abstract instructions, and a (portable) interpreter of the abstract
instructions. The effect of each instruction is defined using a low-level
language that can be executed on ordinary hardware.
The advantages of the abstract machine approach are twofold. From a
theoretical point of view, the abstract machine gives a well-defined
operational semantics to the grammatical formalism. This ensures that grammars
specified using our system are endowed with well defined meaning. It enables,
for example, to formally verify the correctness of a compiler for HPSG, given
an independent definition. From a practical point of view, Amalia is the first
system that employs a direct compilation scheme for unification grammars that
are based on typed feature structures. The use of amalia results in a much
improved performance over existing systems.
In order to test the machine on a realistic application, we have developed a
small-scale, HPSG-based grammar for a fragment of the Hebrew language, using
Amalia as the development platform. This is the first application of HPSG to a
Semitic language.Comment: Doctoral Thesis, 96 pages, many postscript figures, uses pstricks,
pst-node, psfig, fullname and a macros fil
GUBS, a Behavior-based Language for Open System Dedicated to Synthetic Biology
In this article, we propose a domain specific language, GUBS (Genomic Unified
Behavior Specification), dedicated to the behavioral specification of synthetic
biological devices, viewed as discrete open dynamical systems. GUBS is a
rule-based declarative language. By contrast to a closed system, a program is
always a partial description of the behavior of the system. The semantics of
the language accounts the existence of some hidden non-specified actions
possibly altering the behavior of the programmed device. The compilation
framework follows a scheme similar to automatic theorem proving, aiming at
improving synthetic biological design safety.Comment: In Proceedings MeCBIC 2012, arXiv:1211.347
The Use of Translator Implementation Methods for Writing Nonprocedural Interfaces to Application Software Systems
One of the results of advances in computer hardware technology is a wider use of computers in almost all areas of society. There is a need to make it possible for many people to use application software systems that are produced for different areas. For people without data processing backgrounds it would seem wise to use a nonprocedural interface to these systems. The implementation of a nonprocedural interface as a part of an application software system can be facilitated using aspects of the theory and practice of the translator construction for programming languages.
The purpose of this paper is to introduce programmers who lack theoretical background and/or practical experience in the area of translator design and implementation to the relevant aspects of its theory and practice
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