ToCT: A task ontology to manage complex templates

Natural language interfaces are a well-known approach to grant non-experts access to semantic web technologies. A number of such systems use simple templates to achieve that for English and more elab-orate solutions for other languages. They keep being designed from scratch in an ad hoc manner, since there is no shared conceptualisation of simple templates and there is no model that is formalised using a Semantic Web language to apply the techniques to itself. We aim to address this by proposing a general-purpose solution in the form of a novel model for templates, formalised as a task ontology in OWL,calledToCT. We used it to develop an ontology-driven text generator for isiZulu, a morphologically-rich language, to test its capabilities. The generator verbalises the TBox of an ontology as validationq uestions. This evaluation showed that the task ontology is sufficiently expressive for the template design, which was subsequently verified with user evaluations who judged the texts positivel

A classification of grammar-infused templates for ontology and model verbalisation

Involving domain-experts in the development, maintenance, and use of knowledge organisation systems can be made easier through the introduction of easy-to-use interfaces that are based on natural language. Well resourced languages make use of natural language generation techniques to provide such interfaces. In particular, they often make use of templates combined with computational grammar rules to generate grammatically complex text. However, there is no model of pairing templates and computational grammar rules to ensure suitability for less-resourced languages. These languages require a modular design that ensures grammar detachability so as to allow grammar re-use across domains and applications. In this paper, we present a model and classification scheme for grammar-infused templates suited for less-resourced languages and classify existing systems that make use of them. We have found that of the 15 systems that pair templates and grammar rules, and their 11 distinct template types, 13 have support for detachable grammars

Fostering Verbal and Play Interactions in Heritage Language: A Naturalistic Intervention Mediated by Siblings for Autistic Children

Research on sibling-mediated interventions (SMIs) suggests that neurotypical siblings may help bolster language and play development in autistic children (Akers et al., 2018; Celiberti & Harris, 1993; Coe et al., 1991; Glugatch & Machalicek, 2021; Oppenheim-Leaf et al., 2012; Spector & Charlop, 2018), though consideration of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations is lacking. CALD autistic children often have a heritage language, or home language, other than English that is spoken at home with family members. Evidence suggests that bilingual exposure may be advantageous for language and play of autistic children (Dalmau et al., 2011; Lim & Charlop Seung et al., 2006; Vaughn, 2013). However, studies have not yet explored the role of neurotypical siblings in delivery of heritage language during intervention. The present study examined the effects of a naturalistic intervention mediated by siblings (NIMS) across four sibling dyads. Neurotypical siblings first received training through direct instruction, modeling, and role-play with a bilingual therapist. During intervention, visual prompts were used to encourage neurotypical siblings to deliver instructions, appropriate play phrases, and questions in heritage language during play with the autistic children. Results indicated that appropriate verbalizations of autistic children, social initiations of neurotypical siblings, and interactive play of the sibling dyad increased due to the intervention. Ancillary measures revealed that all dyads reported happiness during the intervention and two dyads improved the quality of the sibling relationship. The implications of the study suggest researchers and practitioners alike should continue to explore neurotypical siblings as change agents for autistic children, particularly when delivering intervention in heritage language

Surface realization architecture for low-resourced African languages

There has been growing interest in building surface realization systems to support the automatic generation of text in African languages. Such tools focus on converting abstract representations of meaning to text. Since African languages are low-resourced, economical use of resources and general maintainability are key considerations. However, there is no existing surface realizer architecture that possesses most of the maintainability characteristics (e.g., modularity, reusability, and analyzability) that will lead to maintainable software that can be used for the languages. Moreover, there is no consensus surface realization architecture created for other languages that can be adapted for the languages in question. In this work, we solve this by creating a novel surface realizer architecture suitable for low-resourced African languages that abide by the features of maintainable software. Its design comes after a granular analysis, classification, and comparison of the architectures used by 77 existing NLG systems. We compare our architecture to existing architectures and show that it supports the most features of a maintainable software product.Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering through the HPI Research School at UCT and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africahttps://dl.acm.org/journal/tallipInformatic

Kayardild : the language of the Bentinck Islanders of North West Queensland

This is a reference grammar of Kayardild (K) . an Australian language spoken in the south Wellesley Islands. Gulf of Carpentaria. Chapter One sets the language In its broader cultural and linguistic perspective, including its genetic position in the Tangkic group and beyond, the linguistic evidence relating to its alleged long Isolation, and the contemporary position of languages on Mornington Island. The phonology is briefly introduced. Chapter Two introduces a number of descriptive concepts. Parts of spoech. word order, the grammatical relations Subject and Object, and the potential for disjunction of subject and pivot are discussed. Case use in K is highly complicated, and five functions must be distinguished: relational (relating an NP to the verb or clause) . adnominal (relating one NP to another) . modal (signalling tens e/mood) . associating (linking NPs with nominalized verbs) and complementizing (relating one clause to another) . I argue that constituent structure mediates case-assignment, and that K has a VP-constituent despite its free phrase order. Chapter Three discusses the nominal case system: form. sequence restrictions and meaning. Besides the twelve regular cases there are seven 'verbal cases', with case-like syntax and meanings but verbal in form. Nominal-nominal derivation, compounding and reduplicating are also discussed. Chapter Four examines the remaining nominal subclasses: pronouns, locationals. and manner, time and predicate nominals. The structure of the NP is discussed. Chapter Five deals with verbals: the form and function of verb inflections, verb-verb and nominal-verb derivations, preverbal particles, nominal prefixation, and 'verb complexes' - syntagms comprising several verbal words with identical inflection. Chapter Six discusses the syntax of the simple clause: nominal (verbless) clauses: basic, alternate and derived verbal argument structures: secondary predication: questions: negation: and particles and clitics. Chapter Seven focusses on the unusual 'modal case' system whereby tense/mood is signalled on nominals as well as verbals. I discuss different syntactic models, the semantics of modal case choice, the relation between modal and other case meanings, factors defining the domain of modal case, and the evolution of the modal case system (with comparative data from Yukulta. Yangkaal and Lardil) . Chapter Eight deals with non-finite subordinate clauses and lexical nominalizations. Chapter Nine discusses finite subordinate clauses. Their functions and morphosyntax are examined in detail, especially the unusual 'odd pivot' system which signals pivot sequences such as (Matrix) Object: (Subordinate) Instrument, in which the pivot is not subject of both clauses. I also examine their independent or 'insubordinated' use to show ellipsed main clause predicates, or to track thematically marked discourse sequences: and the evolution of the 'odd pivot' system from an antecedent-agreement system of the type found in Yukulta