2 research outputs found
Generating referring expressions in a domain of objects and processes
This thesis presents a collection of algorithms and data structures for the generation of
pronouns, anaphoric definite noun phrases, and one-anaphoric phrases. After a close
analysis of the particular kinds of referring expressions that appear in a particular
domain -that of cookery recipes -the thesis presents an appropriate ontology and a
corresponding representation language. This ontology is then integrated into a wider
framework for language generation as a whole, whereupon we show how the representation language can be successfully used to produce appropriate referring expressions for
a range of complex object types.Amongst the more important ideas explored in the thesis are the following:• We introduce the notion of a generalized physical object as a way of representing
singular entities, mass entities, and entities which are sets.• We adopt the view that planning operators are essentially underspecified events,
and use this, in conjunction with a simple model of the hearer, to allow us to
determine the appropriate level of detail at which a given plan should be described.• We make use of a discourse model that distinguishes local and global focus, and
is closely tied to a notion of discourse structure; and we introduce a notion of
DISCRIMINATORY POWER as a means to choosing the content of a referring expression.• We present a model of the generation of referring expressions that makes use of
two levels of intermediate representation, and integrate this model with the use
of a linguistically- founded grammar for noun phrases.The thesis ends by making some suggestions for further extensions to the work reported
here
Referring as Requesting
This paper considers what kind of speech act referring might be. I propose a generalization of Searle's "propositional" act of referring that treats it as an illocutionary act, a request, and argue that the propositional act of referring is unnecessar