Computational Semantics

Johan Bos

  • Area: LaCo
  • Level: I
  • Week: 2
  • Time: 11:00 – 12:30
  • Room: D1.02

Abstract

In this course on computational semantics the relationship between expressions of natural language and meaning representations is studied, and the way one could use these meaning representations to draw (automatically) inferences. This will be done by:

  1. Comparing model-based approaches with proof-based approaches, and introduce inference techniques such as model checking, model building, and theorem proving;
  2. Discussing the ingredients of meaning representations for natural language expressions;
  3. Introducing a compositional approach for mapping natural language expressions to meaning representations, based on categorial grammar;
  4. Applying the techniques to practical applications in language technology such as contradiction checking and advanced image search.

This is an introductory course. No special knowledge of first-order logic, computational grammar, formal semantics, or automated reasoning is required.

Day 1: Exploring Models

Day 2: Meaning Representations

Day 3: Computing Meanings with DCG

Day 4: Computing Meanings with CCG

  • C&C + Boxer
  • Further reading: Bos (2015): Open-Domain Semantic Parsing with Boxer. In: B. Megyesi (ed): Proceedings of the 20th Nordic Conference of Computational Linguistics (NODALIDA 2015), pp 301–304. PDF
  • Slides: CategorialGrammar

Day 5: Drawing Inferences and Meaning Banking