Grammar Systems Research Articles

The Use of Contrastive Analysis in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at Tertiary Level

Teaching English as a foreign language at university level is quite a different challenge compared to teaching high school or young non-native learners. This is due to the fact that university students are expected to acquire specific grammar terminology in order to master the grammar system of the target language. At the English Department of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, during the first three (undergraduate) years of study the students are introduced to several grammar courses, focusing on the analysis of English grammar through descriptive explanations given in English. The courses serve as a basis which is expected to improve both grammar and translation competence of the students. This paper examines to what extent the acquired descriptive knowledge of morphosyntactic properties of English is helpful in terms of translation of those Bosnian sentences whose proper translation into English requires the knowledge of contrastive rules. The research has been designed as a combination of action research and a quasi-experimental pre-test (delayed) post-test control-treatment group. As the research findings have revealed, teaching grammar to non-native learners of English without input as to the contrastive differences between the source and the target language results in erroneous translation, which is a consequence of negative transfer from the source into the target language. On the other hand, grammar teaching supported by the presentation of relevant contrastive rules has proved to be an efficient learning technique in terms of reducing errors and improving both grammar and translation competence of non-native learners. Keywords: verb phrase, erroneous translation, transfer, contrastive analysis, pretesting, post-testing, treatment

Linguistic Models at the Crossroads of Agents, Learning and Formal Languages

This paper aims at reviewing the most relevant linguistic applications developed in the intersection between three different fields: machine learning, formal language theory and agent technologies. On the one hand, we present some of the main linguistic contributions of the intersection between machine learning and formal languages, which constitutes a well-established research area known as Grammatical Inference. On the other hand, we present an overview of the main linguistic applications of models developed in the intersection between agent technologies and formal languages, such as colonies, grammar systems and eco-grammar systems. Our goal is to show how interdisciplinary research between these three fields can contribute to better understand how natural language is acquired and processed.

Evolving fuzzy grammar for crime texts categorization

Text mining refers to the activity of identifying useful information from natural language text. This is one of the criteria practiced in automated text categorization. Machine learning (ML) based methods are the popular solution for this problem. However, the developed models typically provide low expressivity and lacking in human-understandable representation. In spite of being highly efficient, the ML based methods are established in train–test setting, and when the existing model is found insufficient, the whole processes need to be reinvented which implies train–test–retrain and is typically time consuming. Furthermore, retraining the model is not usually practical and feasible option whenever there is continuous change. This paper introduces the evolving fuzzy grammar (EFG) method for crime texts categorization. In this method, the learning model is built based on a set of selected text fragments which are then transformed into their underlying structure called fuzzy grammars. The fuzzy notion is used because the grammar matching, parsing and derivation involve uncertainty. Fuzzy union operator is also used to combine and transform individual text fragment grammars into more general representations of the learned text fragments. The set of learned fuzzy grammars is influenced by the evolution in the seen pattern; the learned model is slightly changed (incrementally) as adaptation, which does not require the conventional redevelopment. The performance of EFG in crime texts categorization is evaluated against expert-tagged real incidents summaries and compared against C4.5, support vector machines, naïve Bayes, boosting, and k-nearest neighbour methods. Results show that the EFG algorithm produces results that are close in performance with the other ML methods while being highly interpretable, easily integrated into a more comprehensive grammar system and with lower model retraining adaptability time.

Focus case outside of Austronesian: An analysis of Kolyma Yukaghir

Case is traditionally approached as a lexical phenomenon in HPSG. The LinGO Grammar Matrix customization system, an HPSG-based grammar engineering toolkit and also a typological meta-resource, includes several options for case assignment, and one of them, ˋfocus case', assumes that case of the participants in basic clauses is handled via lexical rules rather than lexical entries. This phenomenon was previously only attributed to a group of Austronesian languages, and thus the focus case differed from all other case options in the Matrix which were attested for across language families. Our analysis of Kolyma Yukaghir, a nearly extinct language of North-Eastern Russia, shows that focus case can be successfully used outside of Austronesian family and therefore that the option is more universal than it was previously thought.

Does complexity matter? Meta-analysis of learner performance in artificial grammar tasks.

Complexity has been shown to affect performance on artificial grammar learning (AGL) tasks (categorization of test items as grammatical/ungrammatical according to the implicitly trained grammar rules). However, previously published AGL experiments did not utilize consistent measures to investigate the comprehensive effect of grammar complexity on task performance. The present study focused on computerizing Bollt and Jones's (2000) technique of calculating topological entropy (TE), a quantitative measure of AGL charts' complexity, with the aim of examining associations between grammar systems' TE and learners' AGL task performance. We surveyed the literature and identified 56 previous AGL experiments based on 10 different grammars that met the sampling criteria. Using the automated matrix-lift-action method, we assigned a TE value for each of these 10 previously used AGL systems and examined its correlation with learners' task performance. The meta-regression analysis showed a significant correlation, demonstrating that the complexity effect transcended the different settings and conditions in which the categorization task was performed. The results reinforced the importance of using this new automated tool to uniformly measure grammar systems' complexity when experimenting with and evaluating the findings of AGL studies.

Adjectival modification in L2 Spanish Noun Phrases

The present paper investigates the grammar systems of Chinese learners of Spanish as a second language with the aim of contributing to current debates within contemporary generative second language (L2) acquisition theory: the extent to which adult learners are (un)able to acquire new functional features that result in a L2 grammar that is mentally structured like the native target language has led to recent accounts such as the Interpretability Hypothesis (Hawkins & Hattori 2006; Tsimpli & Dimitrakopoulou 2007) excluding L2A of non-L1 uninterpretable features, and more recently the Feature Reassembly Hypothesis (Lardiere 2009) claiming that L2 readjustment is an arduous acquisition task for [+/–] interpretable features. In evaluating both hypotheses, this study further explores L2A of uninterpretable and interpretable features by examining the development of certain Spanish features within the DP (i.e., [uGender]; [uNumber] and an interpretable Focus/Contrast feature) by L2 Chinese learners. Results of our two experimental tasks show that parametrically different uninterpretable and interpretable features are not totally accessible to adult L2 learners, but that proficiency level and individual differences figure largely in the implementation of them, causing competence target deviant patterns. Contrary to the IH, our results thus show initial underspecification of the [+/–] interpretable features in IL grammars and a gradual process which would first mimic L1-consistency before becoming native-like.

Systematic view on medicinal property theory based on self-similarity principle

Studies on the prescription combination regularity based on medicinal tastes focus on the internal relations between the structure and hierarchy of the prescription combination system. In this paper, with the systematic and scientific self-similarity theory as the core ideology, authors systematically interpreted the self-similarity theory of medicinal properties, defined the self-similarity of prescriptions with identical or similar medicinal properties, and built the systematic view of medicinal property theory based on the prescription combination based on the entity grammar system. As a result, the system was conducive to integrating traditional Chinese medicinal knowledge of syndromes, therapeutic principles, efficacies, medicinal properties and tastes and achieving the automatic design and optimization process from symptoms to prescriptions, and providing scientific and feasible methods and technical systems for the application of the medicinal property theory, with a guiding significance to the technology, methodology and theory of decoction pieces compatibility, component compatibility and compound medicine design.

Sumbangan Bahasa Arab terhadap Bahasa Indonesia dalam Perspektif Pengembangan Bahasa dan Budaya

This study discusses the Arabic contributions to the Bahasa Indonesia in the perspective of language and culture developments. The data are taken from Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI). Based on the analysis done shows that there are three important aspects of the Arabic contribution to the Bahasa Indonesia, namely vocabulary enrichment, grammar system, and cultural development. In the aspect of vocabulary enrichment, approximately 2.336 Arabic vocabularies have moved into Bahasa Indonesia. In the aspect of grammar, the Arabic grammatical system is used in the grammatical system of Bahasa Indonesian such as gender formation and formation of word that shows the meaning of nature. In the cultural aspect, the Arabic language also contribute to the development of Indonesian culture, such as the use of proper names in Arabic by the Indonesian Muslims, religious institutions, and state. Moreover, the Arabic terms are also used in everyday expressions, literature, and in the constitutional system of the Republic of Indonesia.

Cooperating Distributed Grammar Systems of Finite Index Working in Hybrid Modes

We study cooperating distributed grammar systems working in hybrid modes in connection with the finite index restriction in two different ways: firstly, we investigate cooperating distributed grammar systems working in hybrid modes which characterize programmed grammars with the finite index restriction; looking at the number of components of such systems, we obtain surprisingly rich lattice structures for the inclusion relations between the corresponding language families. Secondly, we impose the finite index restriction on cooperating distributed grammar systems working in hybrid modes themselves, which leads us to new characterizations of programmed grammars of finite index.

Exploration of the mechanism of pattern-specific treatments in coronary heart disease with network pharmacology approach

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern is a valuable classification method in the treatment of complex disease such as coronary heart disease (CHD). In accordance to TCM patterns, our ancestors created many pertinent TCM formulae, which have been used in China for thousands of years and are still playing an important role in China today. However, the biological mechanism of TCM pattern-specific formulae remains elusive. In this paper, we chose CHD patterns (Qi-stagnation induced blood-stasis syndrome, abbreviated as QSB; Qi-deficiency induced blood-stasis syndrome, abbreviated as QDB) as examples to illustrate the mechanism of their pattern-specific formulae. Using entity grammar systems (EGS) formalism, we built two pharmacologic networks of the formulae and obtained the intersection and difference networks by network comparison. Then we analyzed their common and different mechanisms for treating CHD by GO enrichment analysis. The results indicate that QDB-specific formula takes more special molecular paths to treat CHD, which contribute to more severe pathological changes in comparison with QSB. In this paper, we achieved a better understanding of the pharmacological characteristics of CHD patterns-specific formulae, which is beneficial to explore different therapies for a disease to enhance the effectiveness and pertinence of treatment.

English

In this paper we associate permitting symbols with rules of Grammars in the components of cooperating distributed context free hexagonal array grammar systems as a control mechanism and investigating the generative power of the resulting systems in the terminal mode. This feature of associating permitting symbols with rules when extended to patterns in the form of connected arrays also requires checking of symbols, but this is simpler than usual pattern matching. The benefit of allowing permitting symbols is that it enables us to reduce the number of components required in a cooperating distributed hexagonal array grammar system for generating a set of picture arrays.

On some derivation mechanisms and the complexity of their Szilard languages

A Szilard language is a language theoretical tool used to describe the derivation process in a formal grammar or grammar system. We investigate computational resources used by (alternating) Turing machines to accept Szilard languages of Chomsky grammars, regulated grammars and grammar systems. The results are related to the circuit complexity classes NC1 and NC2. The paper is a survey of the most important complexity results in the field, but it also brings several new insights into the parallel complexity of Szilard languages of grammar systems. We focus on parallel communicating grammar systems (PCGSs) with context-free components, and we prove that the class of Szilard languages of centralized (returning or non-returning) PCGSs is included in NC1.

Characterization of rational biomarkers accompanying fever in yeast-induced pyrexia rats using urine metabolic footprint analysis

Fever is a prominent feature of diseases and is an ongoing process that is always accompanied by metabolic changes in the body system. Despite the success of temperature regulation theory, the underlying biological process remains unclear. To truly understand the nature of the febrile response, it is crucial to confirm the biomarkers during the entire biological process. In the current study, a 73-h metabolic footprint analysis of the urine from yeast-induced pyrexia rats was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Potential biomarkers were selected using orthogonal partial least squares-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA), the rational biomarkers were verified by Pearson correlation analysis, and the predictive power was evaluated using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. A metabolic network constructed using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) grammar systems was used to validate the rationality of the verified biomarkers. Finally, five biomarkers, including indoleacrylic acid, 3-methyluridine, tryptophan, nicotinuric acid and PI (37:3), were confirmed as rational biomarkers because their correlation coefficients were all greater than 0.87 and because all of the correlation coefficients between any pair of these biomarkers were higher than 0.75. The areas under the ROC curves were all greater than 0.84, and their combined predictive power was considered reliable because the greatest area under the ROC curve was 0.968. A metabolic network also demonstrated the rationality of these five biomarkers. Therefore, these five metabolites can be adopted as rational biomarkers to reflect the process of the febrile response in inflammation-induced pyrexia.

Inference of Probabilistic Grammars in Different Rules Systems of Natural Languages

Abstract Grammar induction is an important and current area within computational linguistics. The results in induction of string transformation rules can be applied not only in linguistics but in many other pattern recognition tasks. The task of grammar induction belongs in general to NP -hard problems. The paper analyses the main rule types in natural languages and in string transformation systems. The paper focuses on the inference of inflectional rule systems which differs in many aspects from the traditional production rule system of Chomsky grammars. The work compares the main candidate methods on the learning of objective-case in the Hungarian language.

Negotiated Grammar Evolution.

In this paper, we study controlled adaptability of metamodel transformations. We consider one of the most rigid metamodel evolution formalisms --- automated grammar transformation with operator suites, where a transformation script is built in such a way that it is essentially meant to be applicable only to one designated input grammar fragment. We propose a new model of processing unidirectional programmable grammar transformation commands, that makes them more adaptable. In the proposed method, the making of a decision of letting the transformation command fail (and thus halt the subsequent transformation steps) is taken away from the transformation engine and can be delegated to the transformation script (by specifying variability limits explicitly), to the grammar engineer (by making the transformation process interactive), or to another separate component that systematically implements the desired level of adaptability. The paper investigates two kinds of different adaptability of transformation (through tolerance and through adjustment), explains how an existing grammar transformation system was reengineered to work with negotiations, and contains examples of possible usage of this negotiated grammar transformation process.

The Conflict of Theory in Arabic Grammar

There have been debates and discussions on linguisticsargumentations used by both schools Basra and Kufa in order to impose their principles in modification of Arabic Grammar. This kind of scenario contributes some negatives and positives views among the scholars claimed that BaIra and Kufa were the two cities which permanently rivaled each other. In principle, BaIra and Kufah do evidence two differing linguistic and grammatical approaches. The school of Basra was generally more philosophically inclined when formulating the system of Arabic grammar while the school of Kufah based its rules on evidence found in classical texts. Although Basra applied more analogy does not mean that Basran scholars did not also refer to the already existent linguistic corpus in the classical texts. In order to re-evaluate the above discussion, the researcher addresses some evidences from the linguistic corpus and analogical approach in Arabic Grammar. Index Terms—Rival, analogical, anomaly, corpus. I. I NTRODUCTION Classical Arabic had eight cases: accusative (nasab), genetive (jar), nominative (rafN), apocopate (jazm), a-vowel (fath), i-vowel (kasr), u-vowel (Iam) and zero-vowel (waqf). Sibawayh divided the endings of the eight cases into four pairs: the accusative and a-vowel, the genitive and i-vowel, the nominative and u-vowel, and lastly the apocopate and zero-vowel. A word which receives different pairs because it is produced by a governor, its ending is not permanent and will be changed based on its position and use in the sentence. This system can be called the process of governing or the concept of al-Namil. ShawqE Oaif believed this kind of rule was unique to Arabic grammar 1 and a sufficient proof of its originality. The introduction of short-vowel signs in written language has to be considered a separate development and does not interfere with the original syntax. Arabic as a complete and fully developed language already existed before the arrival of Prophet Ishmael used by the tribe QahIEn and HimyEr. Arabic was the language spoken by a tribal leader called Jurhum who married the daughter of IrEm, sEms son after Noah's flood, and through his offspring Arabic became the language of a great nation 2 . The offspring of Ishmael arrived and spread the use of Arabic. Arabic was an original language with its unique system of grammar

汉语量词的窄域释义

窄域释义现象实际是句法推演过程中时间演算带来的附加现象。核查过程中只有形式特征发生移位，词汇、语义特征呈显性滞留于原位置，A-语链中语迹的语义解释依赖方向自由式词义传递机制；在语法的解释系统中不存在效应消除过程，移位总是从低处移往高处结构统制位置；化名词词组的强/弱分类对于该问题的解释处于从属地位，结构中的位置有无标记性特征则变得至关重要。加入了标记性结构位置理论后，以约束关系为基础的释义方法指出辖域冻结现象可以从对窄域释义的分析中推导出来。 The narrow scope reading effects of quantifiers are in fact epiphenomena of derivational timing. There is no undoing process in interpretive system of grammar, given that chains are formed either by moving an element lower in the position of tree to a higher position and stay put thereby or by moving only formal features [FF] of a element, leaving the element hosting the feature of [SF] behind overtly. This stresses again that movements always take place to a c-commanding position. Narrow scope reading of quantifiers that takes place in A-chains is felicitated by means of Direction-Free Semantic Transmitting Device. In the interpretation, the classification of quantifiers is reduced to an ancillary status while the fact that whether a position is syntactically marked becomes crucial. Augmented with the theory of marked syntactic positions, this interpretive approach based on the binding relations accounts that the scope freezing phenomenon is actually a derived fact.

On distributed cooperation and synchronised collaboration

In CD grammar systems, the rewriting process is distributed over component grammars that take turns in the derivation of new symbols. Team automata however collaborate by synchronising their actions. Here we investigate how to transfer this concept of synchronisation to grammars by defining grammar teams that agree on the generation of shared terminal symbols based on a novel notion of competence. We first illustrate this idea for the case of regular grammars and next propose an extension to the case of context-free grammars.

Interpreting the Construction of the Multimodality of E. E Cummings’ "Eccentric Typographical" Poem "l(a"

Kress and Van Leeuwen, who introduced the meta-function into visual circumstances and established the Grammar of Visual Design which is developed from the theoretical framework of Halliday's systemic functional grammar and provides a theoretical foundation for researches on multimodality, holds that not only verbal semiotics but also visual semiotics can express meaning. Therefore, based upon the theory of systemic functional grammar and the theory of multimodal discourse analysis, this paper takes E. E cummings' poem l(a as an example and attempts to propose a model of multimodal approach to visual poems. The particular focuses of the study are laid on interpreting the construction of its verbal modality which includes the ideational metafunction, interpersonal metafunction and textual metafunction, and the construction of its visual modality (typographical aspects) which includes the establishment of visual grammar systems and the ways the grammatical structures of visual modality realize representational metafunction, interactive metafunction and compositional metafunction so as to explore different possibilities of interpreting the poem. It is proved by the study that multimodality approach proves a systemic and more through way in interpreting such poems. Meanwhile, it further verifies the fact that multimodal analytic approach to discourse integrates language and language-related resources, with the result of making the discourse interpretation more comprehensive and approximative. Hopefully, the provoking result of this study will inspire further studies on multimodal approach to visual poetry.

Parsing Intentions of Speech

This paper is aimed at revealing the inner structures of intentions of speech through demonstrating a method of parsing intentions of speech. The intentions of speech are parsed separately, which is inspired by Searle's notation ( ) . In this research, both the propositional content and the illocutionary forces are represented as semantic frames, the categories of which are combined together with syntactic rules of Categorial Grammar. This method is implemented in a grammar system programed in ALE a logic programming language based on the logic of Typed Feature Structures.