8,062 research outputs found
Multi-dimensional Type Theory: Rules, Categories, and Combinators for Syntax and Semantics
We investigate the possibility of modelling the syntax and semantics of
natural language by constraints, or rules, imposed by the multi-dimensional
type theory Nabla. The only multiplicity we explicitly consider is two, namely
one dimension for the syntax and one dimension for the semantics, but the
general perspective is important. For example, issues of pragmatics could be
handled as additional dimensions.
One of the main problems addressed is the rather complicated repertoire of
operations that exists besides the notion of categories in traditional Montague
grammar. For the syntax we use a categorial grammar along the lines of Lambek.
For the semantics we use so-called lexical and logical combinators inspired by
work in natural logic. Nabla provides a concise interpretation and a sequent
calculus as the basis for implementations.Comment: 20 page
Robust Processing of Natural Language
Previous approaches to robustness in natural language processing usually
treat deviant input by relaxing grammatical constraints whenever a successful
analysis cannot be provided by ``normal'' means. This schema implies, that
error detection always comes prior to error handling, a behaviour which hardly
can compete with its human model, where many erroneous situations are treated
without even noticing them.
The paper analyses the necessary preconditions for achieving a higher degree
of robustness in natural language processing and suggests a quite different
approach based on a procedure for structural disambiguation. It not only offers
the possibility to cope with robustness issues in a more natural way but
eventually might be suited to accommodate quite different aspects of robust
behaviour within a single framework.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, uses pstricks.sty, pstricks.tex, pstricks.pro,
pst-node.sty, pst-node.tex, pst-node.pro. To appear in: Proc. KI-95, 19th
German Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Bielefeld (Germany), Lecture
Notes in Computer Science, Springer 199
Factoring Predicate Argument and Scope Semantics : underspecified Semantics with LTAG
In this paper we propose a compositional semantics for lexicalized tree-adjoining grammar (LTAG). Tree-local multicomponent derivations allow separation of the semantic contribution of a lexical item into one component contributing to the predicate argument structure and a second component contributing to scope semantics. Based on this idea a syntax-semantics interface is presented where the compositional semantics depends only on the derivation structure. It is shown that the derivation structure (and indirectly the locality of derivations) allows an appropriate amount of underspecification. This is illustrated by investigating underspecified representations for quantifier scope ambiguities and related phenomena such as adjunct scope and island constraints
Type-driven semantic interpretation and feature dependencies in R-LFG
Once one has enriched LFG's formal machinery with the linear logic mechanisms
needed for semantic interpretation as proposed by Dalrymple et. al., it is
natural to ask whether these make any existing components of LFG redundant. As
Dalrymple and her colleagues note, LFG's f-structure completeness and coherence
constraints fall out as a by-product of the linear logic machinery they propose
for semantic interpretation, thus making those f-structure mechanisms
redundant. Given that linear logic machinery or something like it is
independently needed for semantic interpretation, it seems reasonable to
explore the extent to which it is capable of handling feature structure
constraints as well.
R-LFG represents the extreme position that all linguistically required
feature structure dependencies can be captured by the resource-accounting
machinery of a linear or similiar logic independently needed for semantic
interpretation, making LFG's unification machinery redundant. The goal is to
show that LFG linguistic analyses can be expressed as clearly and perspicuously
using the smaller set of mechanisms of R-LFG as they can using the much larger
set of unification-based mechanisms in LFG: if this is the case then we will
have shown that positing these extra f-structure mechanisms is not
linguistically warranted.Comment: 30 pages, to appear in the the ``Glue Language'' volume edited by
Dalrymple, uses tree-dvips, ipa, epic, eepic, fullnam
Feature-based and Model-based Semantics for English, French and German Verb Phrases
This paper considers the relative merits of using features and formal event models to characterise the semantics of English, French and German verb phrases, and con- siders the application of such semantics in machine translation. The feature-based ap- proach represents the semantics in terms of feature systems, which have been widely used in computational linguistics for representing complex syntactic structures. The paper shows how a simple intuitive semantics of verb phrases may be encoded as a feature system, and how this can be used to support modular construction of au- tomatic translation systems through feature look-up tables. This is illustrated by automated translation of English into either French or German. The paper contin- ues to formalise the feature-based approach via a model-based, Montague semantics, which extends previous work on the semantics of English verb phrases. In so doing, repercussions of and to this framework in conducting a contrastive semantic study are considered. The model-based approach also promises to provide support for a more sophisticated approach to translation through logical proof; the paper indicates further work required for the fulfilment of this promise
Open Programming Language Interpreters
Context: This paper presents the concept of open programming language
interpreters and the implementation of a framework-level metaobject protocol
(MOP) to support them. Inquiry: We address the problem of dynamic interpreter
adaptation to tailor the interpreter's behavior on the task to be solved and to
introduce new features to fulfill unforeseen requirements. Many languages
provide a MOP that to some degree supports reflection. However, MOPs are
typically language-specific, their reflective functionality is often
restricted, and the adaptation and application logic are often mixed which
hardens the understanding and maintenance of the source code. Our system
overcomes these limitations. Approach: We designed and implemented a system to
support open programming language interpreters. The prototype implementation is
integrated in the Neverlang framework. The system exposes the structure,
behavior and the runtime state of any Neverlang-based interpreter with the
ability to modify it. Knowledge: Our system provides a complete control over
interpreter's structure, behavior and its runtime state. The approach is
applicable to every Neverlang-based interpreter. Adaptation code can
potentially be reused across different language implementations. Grounding:
Having a prototype implementation we focused on feasibility evaluation. The
paper shows that our approach well addresses problems commonly found in the
research literature. We have a demonstrative video and examples that illustrate
our approach on dynamic software adaptation, aspect-oriented programming,
debugging and context-aware interpreters. Importance: To our knowledge, our
paper presents the first reflective approach targeting a general framework for
language development. Our system provides full reflective support for free to
any Neverlang-based interpreter. We are not aware of any prior application of
open implementations to programming language interpreters in the sense defined
in this paper. Rather than substituting other approaches, we believe our system
can be used as a complementary technique in situations where other approaches
present serious limitations
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