Reference Resolution within the Framework of Cognitive Grammar

TL;DR

This paper proposes a cognitive grammar-based model for reference resolution that uses domain restructuring and contextual cues to identify referents, including implied entities, offering a unified approach to diverse referencing phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a novel reference resolution model grounded in Cognitive Grammar that unifies various referencing phenomena through domain access and restructuring.

Findings

Handles implicit entities in discourse

Utilizes discursive and perceptual context effectively

Proposes a single mechanism for diverse reference phenomena

Abstract

Following the principles of Cognitive Grammar, we concentrate on a model for reference resolution that attempts to overcome the difficulties previous approaches, based on the fundamental assumption that all reference (independent on the type of the referring expression) is accomplished via access to and restructuring of domains of reference rather than by direct linkage to the entities themselves. The model accounts for entities not explicitly mentioned but understood in a discourse, and enables exploitation of discursive and perceptual context to limit the set of potential referents for a given referring expression. As the most important feature, we note that a single mechanism is required to handle what are typically treated as diverse phenomena. Our approach, then, provides a fresh perspective on the relations between Cognitive Grammar and the problem of reference.