Nicholas J. Haddock

Computational models of incremental semantic interpretation

Abstract This paper provides a tutorial introduction to the computational problem of “incremental” semantic interpretation: the problem of computing the semantic interpretation of a sentence on a word-by-word basis as the sentence is read from left to right. We also consider the way in which incremental interpretation can guide the syntactic processing, and pay particular attention to the use of referential information during parsing. We address these issues in terms of the computational models of Bobrow and Webber (1980a, b), Winograd (1972), Mellish (1985), and Haddock (1988). In each case, we ask two questions: First, to what extent does the program embody an incremental process of semantic interpretation? Secondly, how does this process help resolve syntactic ambiguities encountered by the parser? Here we will relate the behaviour of the models to the psychological theory of ambiguity resolution offered by Crain and Steedman (1985). In the context of this review, we identify some of the specific probl...

Speech-as-data technologies for personal information devices

Abstract For small, portable devices, speech input has the advantages of low-cost and small hardware, can be used on the move or whilst the eyes & hands are busy, and is natural and quick. Rather than rely on imperfect speech recognition we propose that information entered as speech is kept as speech and suitable tools are provided to allow quick and easy access to the speech-as-data records. This paper summarises our work on the technologies needed for these tools – for organising, browsing, searching and compressing the stored speech. These technologies go a long way towards giving stored speech the characteristics of text without the associated input problems.

Multimodal database query

The paper proposes a multimodal interface for a real sales database application. We show how natural language processing may be integrated with a visual, direct manipulation method of database query, to produce a user interface which supports a flexible form of query specification, provides implicit guidance about the coverage of the linguistic component, and allows more focused discourse reference.