Corpora: Analysis of subordinating conjunctions

Ken Litkowski (ken@clres.com)
Wed, 06 Aug 1997 11:52:34 -0700

I am performing a "definitive" analysis of the meanings of subordinating
conjunctions and would be interested in linking up with anyone who has
focused on their representation in NLP systems. I am performing an
analysis of subordinating conjunction definitions in Webster's 3rd
International Dictionary, modeling these definitions using the theory of
labeled directed graphs (digraphs), using principles for identifying
primitives I have previously described (see Litkowski, K. C. (1988). On
the search for semantic primitives. Computational Linguistics, 14(1), 52
for an overview).

The "meaning" of subordinating conjunctions essentially consists of
labeling clauses and establishing discourse relationships of time,
contingency, place, condition, concession, contrast, reason, purpose, and
result (see Quirk et al. pp. 1070-1112). I am aware that subordinating
conjunctions are used as cue words in discourse processing, but I am not
aware of any systematic bringing together of these "meanings" in a
computational system. Characterizing these meanings is important in the
digraph analysis, and while I can do it myself, it would be preferable
not to reinvent the wheel. I would be grateful if anyone can point to
computational representations of these meanings.

A database of these "meanings" will eventually be made publicly available
on the web for anyone to use.

Thanks,

-- 
Ken Litkowski                         TEL.: 301-926-5904
CL Research                           EMAIL: ken@clres.com
20239 Lea Pond Place                    
Gaithersburg, MD 20879-1270 USA       Home Page: http://www.clres.com