The Formal Complexity of Natural Language

ISBN-10: 9400934017
ISBN-13: 9789400934016
Category: Computers
Pages: 452
Language: English
Published: 2012-12-06
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Authors: W.J. Savitch, E. Bach, W.E. Marsh

Description

Ever since Chomsky laid the framework for a mathematically formal theory of syntax, two classes of formal models have held wide appeal. The finite state model offered simplicity. At the opposite extreme numerous very powerful models, most notable transformational grammar, offered generality. As soon as this mathematical framework was laid, devastating arguments were given by Chomsky and others indicating that the finite state model was woefully inadequate for the syntax of natural language. In response, the completely general transformational grammar model was advanced as a suitable vehicle for capturing the description of natural language syntax. While transformational grammar seems likely to be adequate to the task, many researchers have advanced the argument that it is "too adequate. " A now classic result of Peters and Ritchie shows that the model of transformational grammar given in Chomsky's Aspects [IJ is powerful indeed. So powerful as to allow it to describe any recursively enumerable set. In other words it can describe the syntax of any language that is describable by any algorithmic process whatsoever. This situation led many researchers to reasses the claim that natural languages are included in the class of transformational grammar languages. The conclu sion that many reached is that the claim is void of content, since, in their view, it says little more than that natural language syntax is doable algo rithmically and, in the framework of modern linguistics, psychology or neuroscience, that is axiomatic.

Get the book

Similar books

Family History Digital Libraries
By William Sims Bainbridge
One named Sara and Timberlake had 11 male workers, 1 female worker, and 4 children workers, so it might have employed the Minor family.
Foundation Dreamweaver MX
By Craig Grannell, Jerome Turner, Matt Stephens
So here's what we need to do to arrive at our layout: s Create the main table to hold all the page elements. s Deal with the navigation area which is ...
Cisco CCNA Certification, 2 Volume Set: Exam 200-301
By Todd Lammle
This inclusive, two-book set provides what you need to know to succeed on the new CCNA exam. The set includes Understanding Cisco Networking Technologies: Volume 1 and the CCNA Certification Study Guide: Volume 2.
CompTIA Network+ Study Guide: Exam N10-006
By Todd Lammle
... you can use: –a –A –c –n –r –R –S –s All nbtstat switches are case sensitive. Generally speaking, lowercase switches deal with NetBIOS names of hosts, ...
CompTIA Network+ Study Guide with Online Labs: N10-007 Exam
By Todd Lammle, Jon Buhagiar
... you can use: –a –A –c –n –r –R –S –s All nbtstat switches are case sensitive. Generally speaking, lowercase switches deal with NetBIOS names of hosts, ...
CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate FastPass
By Todd Lammle
S The S reference point defines the point between the customer router and an ... with the letter E deal with using ISDN on the existing telephone network.
Stranger in the Chat Room
By Todd Hafer, Jedd Hafer
A sequel to In the Chat Room With God finds a group of teens contacted by a mysterious and increasingly malevolent character who claims to know about their encounters with the Almighty and challenges their beliefs. Original.
Error Correction Coding: Mathematical Methods and Algorithms
By Todd K. Moon
M M−1∑ k=0 −∞ ∞ k=0 The average energy per signal E s ∫ can be related to the ... we will deal primarily with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN), ...
Security+ Training Guide
By Todd King
... to deal with most , but unfortunately not all , of these potential threats . ... The S / MIME standard implements encryption for message content using ...
CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide: Exam 640-861
By Todd Lammle, Andy Barkl
S reference point The S reference point defines the reference point between ... with the letter E deal with using ISDN on the existing telephone network.