The Lexicon-Grammar of Predicate Nouns with ser de in Port4NooJ

Abstract

This paper provides continuity for previous efforts on the integration of complementary lexicon-grammars to expand the paraphrastic capabilities of Port4NooJ, the Portuguese module of NooJ (Silberztein 2016). We describe the integration of the lexicon-grammar of 2,085 predicate nouns, which co-occur in constructions with the support verb ser de ‘be of’ in European Portuguese, such as in O Pedro e de uma coragem extraordinaria ‘Peter is of an extraordinary courage’, studied, classified and formalized by Baptista (2005b). This led to a 20% increase in the number of predicate nouns. We also extended previously created paraphrasing grammars, such as the grammars that paraphrase symmetric predicates, as well as the grammars that handle the substitution of the support verb by another support verb. Furthermore, we created new grammars to paraphrase negative constructions, appropriate noun constructions, adjectival constructions, and manner sub-clauses. The paraphrastic capabilities acquired have been integrated in the eSPERTo system.