An implementable semantics for comparative constructions

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An implementable semantics for comparative constructions (1990)

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by Manny Rayner , Amelie Banks

Venue:	Computational Linguistics
Citations:	10 - 0 self

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@ARTICLE{Rayner90animplementable,
    author = {Manny Rayner and Amelie Banks},
    title = {An implementable semantics for comparative constructions},
    journal = {Computational Linguistics},
    year = {1990},
    volume = {16},
    pages = {86--112}
}

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Abstract

We describe a comprehensive treatment of the syntax and semantics of comparative constructions based on theoretical work by Pinkham, which can be implemented in a relatively straightforward fashion within a feature-based phrase-structure grammar. Comparatives are divided up into "clausal " and "phrasal" constructions; in contrast to most previous theories, however, phrasals are not regarded as reduced forms of clausals. We begin by defining a Montagovian semantics for phrasal comparatives that directly links interpretation rules to the surface syntactic structure; we 1then show how this solution can be made computationally more efficient by "factoring " the interpretation through an intermediate level of representa-tion, using a method similar to that used for dealing with scoping phenomena. Detailed examples are provided, showing how the method can correctly describe the semantics of a variety of superficially widely different comparative constructions. The ideas have all been implemented within a large-scale grammar for Swedish, a "toy " version of which is presented, along with examples of the output.

Keyphrases

comparative construction implementable semantics different comparative construction theoretical work surface syntactic structure intermediate level clausal quot montagovian semantics interpretation rule reduced form large-scale grammar comprehensive treatment straightforward fashion previous theory detailed example phrasal comparative feature-based phrase-structure grammar

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