We present Embodied Construction Grammar, a formalism for linguistic analysis designed specifically for integration into a simulation-based model of language understanding. As in other construction grammars, linguistic constructions serve to map between phonological forms and conceptual representations.

Various lines of research on language have converged on the premise that linguistic knowledge has as its basic unit pairings of form and meaning. The precise nature of the meanings involved, however, remains subject to the longstanding debate between proponents of arbitrary, abstract representations and those who argue for more detailed perceptuo-motor representations. We propose a model, Embodied Construction Grammar (ECG), which integrates these two positions by casting meanings as schematic representations embodied in human perceptual and motor systems. On this view, understanding everyday language entails running mental simulations of its perceptual and motor content. Linguistic meanings are parameterizations of aspects of such simulations; they thus serve as an interface between the relatively discrete properties of language and the detailed and encyclopedic knowledge needed for simulation. This paper assembles evidence from neural imaging and psycholinguistic experiments supporting this general approach to language understanding. It also introduces ECG as a model that fulfills the requisite constraints, and presents two kinds of support for the model. First, we describe two verbal matching studies that test predictions the model makes about the degree of motor detail available in lexical representations. Second, we demonstrate the viability and utility of ECG as a grammar formalism through its capacity to support computational models of language understanding and acquisition.

The Neural Theory of Language project aims to build structured connectionist models of language and cognition consistent with constraints from all domains and at all levels. These constraints include recent experimental evidence that details of neural computation and brain architecture play a crucial role in language processing. We focus in this paper on the computational level and explore the role of embodied representations and simulative inference in language understanding. 1.

This paper describes a chunk-based parser/semantic analyzer used by a language learning model. The language learning model requires an analyzer that robustly responds to extragrammaticality, ungrammaticality and other problems associated with transcribed language. The analyzer produces globally coherent analyses by semantically integrating the partial parses. Each resulting semantically integrated analysis is ranked by its semantic compatibility using a novel metric called semantic density.

This thesis seeks to determine if organizational values and defined behaviors that are communicated throughout the organization can increase employee satisfaction, commitment and performance outcomes. This research explains how these values are defined by an organization and ways that values and expected behaviors can be communicated to improve employee outcomes. Past research on values and behaviors within organizations is reviewed. The communication of stated organizational values and the relationship with employee outcomes is evaluated between two departments within a Health Care Organization (HCO). Questions from the Organizational Culture Survey and the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire are combined to measure employee satisfaction, morale and perceived involvement in decision-making. The organization provided data on employee absenteeism, turnover and performance ratings. A comparative analysis was conducted by performing an Independent Sample Test and Chi-Square which supported one of the six hypotheses presented; departments that clearly define and communicate stated organization values have employees that perceive they are more involved and more participative in decision-making. Values and Behaviors 3 CHAPTER 1

Many models of the acquisition of early multi-word constructions assume significant

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