Semantically Constrained Multilayer Annotation: The Case of Coreference

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new coreference annotation scheme built on a semantic layer that leverages predicate-argument structures, aiming to improve consistency and comparability in coreference annotation.

Contribution

It presents a novel annotation scheme that enforces semantic consistency and is tested through a pilot study, offering a new approach to coreference annotation.

Findings

The scheme improves annotation consistency.

Pilot study demonstrates feasibility.

Compared favorably with existing schemes.

Abstract

We propose a coreference annotation scheme as a layer on top of the Universal Conceptual Cognitive Annotation foundational layer, treating units in predicate-argument structure as a basis for entity and event mentions. We argue that this allows coreference annotators to sidestep some of the challenges faced in other schemes, which do not enforce consistency with predicate-argument structure and vary widely in what kinds of mentions they annotate and how. The proposed approach is examined with a pilot annotation study and compared with annotations from other schemes.