Principle Based Semantics for HPSG
A. Frank, U. Reyle (Institute for Computational Linguistics,, University of Stuttgart)

TL;DR
This paper introduces a constraint-based semantic formalism for HPSG that efficiently handles ambiguities in German syntax, enabling incremental interpretation and direct inference without generating multiple interpretations.
Contribution
It proposes a novel formalism using underspecified discourse representations that integrate syntax and semantics for HPSG, improving ambiguity resolution and inference.
Findings
UDRS allow monotonic incremental interpretation
Semantic representations include truth conditions and proof theory
Efficient handling of quantifier scope and distributivity ambiguities
Abstract
The paper presents a constraint based semantic formalism for HPSG. The advantages of the formlism are shown with respect to a grammar for a fragment of German that deals with (i) quantifier scope ambiguities triggered by scrambling and/or movement and (ii) ambiguities that arise from the collective/distributive distinction of plural NPs. The syntax-semantics interface directly implements syntactic conditions on quantifier scoping and distributivity. The construction of semantic representations is guided by general principles governing the interaction between syntax and semantics. Each of these principles acts as a constraint to narrow down the set of possible interpretations of a sentence. Meanings of ambiguous sentences are represented by single partial representations (so-called U(nderspecified) D(iscourse) R(epresentation) S(tructure)s) to which further constraints can be added…
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Taxonomy
TopicsNatural Language Processing Techniques · Semantic Web and Ontologies
