Linguistics 564
Computational Grammar Formalisms
Autumn 2005

Course goals

This course focuses on nonderivational theories of syntax and semantics that have proved particularly attractive to computational linguistics. We will examine a number of different grammatical frameworks,including dependency grammar (DG), tree-adjoining grammar (TAG), combinatory categorial grammar (CCG), and lexical-funcational grammar (LFG). After a survey of the mechanisms of each of these, we will delve more deeply into the framework of Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG), examining both theoretical and practical issues.

The course will provide students with opportunities to test these theories and examine human and machine linguistic analyses based on them. At the end of the course, students should be able to begin to analyze linguistic data in a number of ways, to read syntactic literature from a variety of viewpoints, and to understand how these formalisms lend themselves well to computational needs.

Instructor:

Markus Dickinson

Office:

Intercultural Center (ICC) 452

Phone:

687-5753

E-mail:

mad (followed by) 87 AT georgetown DOT edu

Office hours:

(at least for the first week)

M 2:00-3:00pm
R 10:30-11:30am
  or by appointment


Meeting time:

TR, 8:50-10:05am

Classroom:

Car Barn (CBN) 301

Course website:

http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/mad87/05/cgf/

Credits:

3

Course prerequisites:

Generative Syntax I, or Introduction to NLP, or permission of instructor

Readings:

For the first 5 weeks, we will use a variety of readings (available online) to provide background material for the lectures, and then we will use a book.

Articles:

Book to purchase:

If there's time, we might work in the following readings, as well:

Course requirements:

Academic Misconduct:

As signatories to the Georgetown University Honor Pledge, and simply as good scholars and citizens, you are required to uphold academic honesty in all aspects of this course. You are expected to be familiar with the letter and spirit of the Standards of Conduct outlined in the Georgetown Honor System and on the Honor Council website. As faculty, I too am obligated to uphold the Honor System, and will report all suspected cases of academic dishonesty.

Students with Disabilities:

Students who need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me to arrange an appointment as soon as possible to discuss the course format, to anticipate needs, and to explore potential accommodations.

I rely on the Academic Resource Center for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies. Students who have not previously contacted the Academic Resource Center are encouraged to do so (202-687-8354; http://ldss.georgetown.edu/index.html).

Schedule:

Month Week Day Date Topic Reading Assignments
Sep. 1 R 1 Intro to class (.pdf)    
  2 T 6 Dependency Grammar (DG) (.pdf) RH, JH  
    R 8 DG    
  3 T 13 Tree-Adjoining Grammar (TAG) (.pdf) J&S  
    R 15 TAG    
  4 T 20 Combinatory Categorial Grammar (CCG) (.pdf) S&B  
    R 22 CCG   HW1 due
  5 T 27 Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG) (.pdf) PKA  
    R 29 LFG    
Oct. 6 T 4 Catch-up    
    R 6 Head-driven PSG (HPSG) (.pdf) P&S, ch. 1  
  7 T 11 Topic #1: Agreement (.pdf) P&S, ch. 2 HW2 due
    R 13 Agreement    
  8 T 18 Topic #2: Complement Structures (.pdf) P&S, ch. 3  
    R 20 Complement Structures P&S, ch. 9  
  9 T 25 Complement Structures    
    R 27 Topic #3: UDCs (.pdf) P&S, ch. 4  
Nov. 10 T 1 UDCs   HW3 due
    R 3 UDCs    
  11 T 8 Topic #4: Binding (.pdf) P&S, ch. 6  
    R 10 Binding    
  12 T 15 Topic #5: Quantifiers (.pdf) P&S, ch. 8  
    R 17 Quantifiers   HW4 due
  13 T 22 Projects (Description)    
    R 24 THANKSGIVING BREAK, NO CLASS    
  14 T 29 Projects    
Dec.   R 1 Projects    
  15 T 6 Project Presentations    
  16 F 16 Written projects due    

Disclaimer

This syllabus is subject to change. All important changes will be made in writing, with ample time for adjustment.

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