Abstract

We present a model of the syntax-semantics interface for Tree-Adjoining Grammars (TAGs). It is based on the encoding of TAGs within the framework of Abstract Categorial Grammars (ACGs). This encoding relies on a functional interpretation of the substitution and adjunction operations of TAGs. In ACGs, the abstract terms representing derivation trees are full-fledged objects of the grammar. These terms are mapped onto logical formulas representing the semantic interpretation of natural expressions that TAGs can analyze. Because of the reversibility properties of ACGs, this provides a way to parse and generate with the same TAG encoded grammar. We propose several analyses, including long distance dependencies, quantification, control and raising verbs, and subordinate clauses. We also show how this encoding easily extends to other phenomena such as idioms or scope ambiguities. All the lexical data for theses modellings are provided and can be run with the ACG toolkit, a software package dedicated to the development of ACGs that can use these grammars both for parsing and generation.

Highlights

  • We present a model of the syntax-semantics interface for TreeAdjoining Grammars (TAGs)

  • Contrary to Pogodalla (2004a) and Kallmeyer and Romero (2004, 2008), and to synchronous TAG analyses (Nesson and Shieber 2006; Nesson 2009), the semantic modelling we propose does not rely on an intermediate underspecification language

  • We introduce the Abstract Categorial Grammars (ACGs) that are necessary for the encoding of the syntax-semantics interface: the ACG relating strings and derived trees in Section 4.1; the ACG relating derived trees and generalized derivation trees in Section 4.2 and Section 4.3. We show that these generalized derivations over-generate with respect to TAG derivation trees: the full TAG encoding is not yet completed, but we already have all the necessary parts to implement the syntax-semantics interface

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Summary

Sylvain Pogodalla

INRIA, Villers-lès-Nancy, France Université de Lorraine, LORIA, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France. By construction, this model is fully compositional and satisfies the homomorphic requirement between parse structures (terms representing derivation trees) and semantic terms. This model is fully compositional and satisfies the homomorphic requirement between parse structures (terms representing derivation trees) and semantic terms It relies on an encoding of TAGs into ACGs. For a given TAG G, with this encoding, we can construct and relate several ACGs that generate the same string language, derived tree language, and derivation tree language as G. We introduce and precisely describe the syntax-semantics modelling for adjectives

Logical formulas
Organisation of the article
Adjunction and substitution
John V sleeps
TAG elementary trees as functions
Substitution as function application
John V sleeps sleeps
Adjunction as function application
Adv v seemingly
Encoding strings
Encoding trees
Corresponding TAG tree
ACG composition
Formal properties of ACGs
Tree language
Derived trees and strings
Derivation trees and derived trees
Generalized derivation trees
Logical constants
From derivation dependencies to semantic dependencies
Mary NP
Who V does NP
Det every
Constants of Σderivations cman
Multiple adjunctions
VPA SA NA
Obligatory adjoining constraints
Selective adjoining constraints
PRO to sleep ε
Feature sharing and semantic computation
Corresponding TAG elementary tree γkicked
Subordinating conjunctions
NP VP V left
TAG con time
PRO VP
CoTAG Cevery

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