Some Reflections on the Task of Content Determination in the Context of Multi-Document Summarization of Evolving Events

Despite its importance, the task of summarizing evolving events has received small attention by researchers in the field of multi-document summariztion. In a previous paper (Afantenos et al. 2007) we have presented a methodology for the automatic summarization of documents, emitted by multiple sources, which describe the evolution of an event. At the heart of this methodology lies the identification of similarities and differences between the various documents, in two axes: the synchronic and the diachronic. This is achieved by the introduction of the notion of Synchronic and Diachronic Relations. Those relations connect the messages that are found in the documents, resulting thus in a graph which we call grid. Although the creation of the grid completes the Document Planning phase of a typical NLG architecture, it can be the case that the number of messages contained in a grid is very large, exceeding thus the required compression rate. In this paper we provide some initial thoughts on a probabilistic model which can be applied at the Content Determination stage, and which tries to alleviate this problem.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

What's in a Message?

In this paper we present the first step in a larger series of experiments for the induction of predicate/argument structures. The structures that we are inducing are very similar to the conceptual structures that are used in Frame Semantics (such as FrameNet). Those structures are called messages and they were previously used in the context of a multi-document summarization system of evolving events. The series of experiments that we are proposing are essentially composed from two stages. In the first stage we are trying to extract a representative vocabulary of words. This vocabulary is later used in the second stage, during which we apply to it various clustering approaches in order to identify the clusters of predicates and arguments--or frames and semantic roles, to use the jargon of Frame Semantics. This paper presents in detail and evaluates the first stage

Let's get the student into the driver's seat

Speaking a language and achieving proficiency in another one is a highly complex process which requires the acquisition of various kinds of knowledge and skills, like the learning of words, rules and patterns and their connection to communicative goals (intentions), the usual starting point. To help the learner to acquire these skills we propose an enhanced, electronic version of an age old method: pattern drills (henceforth PDs). While being highly regarded in the fifties, PDs have become unpopular since then, partially because of their lack of grounding (natural context) and rigidity. Despite these shortcomings we do believe in the virtues of this approach, at least with regard to the acquisition of basic linguistic reflexes or skills (automatisms), necessary to survive in the new language. Of course, the method needs improvement, and we will show here how this can be achieved. Unlike tapes or books, computers are open media, allowing for dynamic changes, taking users' performances and preferences into account. Building an electronic version of PDs amounts to building an open resource, accomodatable to the users' ever changing needs.Comment: 6 page

Using Synchronic and Diachronic Relations for Summarizing Multiple Documents Describing Evolving Events

In this paper we present a fresh look at the problem of summarizing evolving events from multiple sources. After a discussion concerning the nature of evolving events we introduce a distinction between linearly and non-linearly evolving events. We present then a general methodology for the automatic creation of summaries from evolving events. At its heart lie the notions of Synchronic and Diachronic cross-document Relations (SDRs), whose aim is the identification of similarities and differences between sources, from a synchronical and diachronical perspective. SDRs do not connect documents or textual elements found therein, but structures one might call messages. Applying this methodology will yield a set of messages and relations, SDRs, connecting them, that is a graph which we call grid. We will show how such a grid can be considered as the starting point of a Natural Language Generation System. The methodology is evaluated in two case-studies, one for linearly evolving events (descriptions of football matches) and another one for non-linearly evolving events (terrorist incidents involving hostages). In both cases we evaluate the results produced by our computational systems.Comment: 45 pages, 6 figures. To appear in the Journal of Intelligent Information System

Verbal Fluency, or how to Stay on Top of the Wave?

International audienceno abstrac

Let's get the student into the driver's seat

6 pagesSpeaking a language and achieving proficiency in another one is a highly complex process which requires the acquisition of various kinds of knowledge and skills, like the learning of words, rules and patterns and their connection to communicative goals (intentions), the usual starting point. To help the learner to acquire these skills we propose an enhanced, electronic version of an age old method: pattern drills (henceforth PDs). While being highly regarded in the fifties, PDs have become unpopular since then, partially because of their lack of grounding (natural context) and rigidity. Despite these shortcomings we do believe in the virtues of this approach, at least with regard to the acquisition of basic linguistic reflexes or skills (automatisms), necessary to survive in the new language. Of course, the method needs improvement, and we will show here how this can be achieved. Unlike tapes or books, computers are open media, allowing for dynamic changes, taking users' performances and preferences into account. Building an electronic version of PDs amounts to building an open resource, accomodatable to the users' ever changing needs