University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A Model for Temporal References and Its Appliicationin a Question Answering Program

Bruce, Bertram C.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/16396

Description

Title
A Model for Temporal References and Its Appliicationin a Question Answering Program
Author(s)
Bruce, Bertram C.
Issue Date
1972
Keyword(s)
  • Temporal reference
  • Computer question-answering system
  • Chronos
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Formal model
  • Artificial intelligence
Abstract
"A formal model is presented which represents the structure underlying temporal references in natural language. Serving as a framework for analysis of tenses, time relations, and other references to time in language, the model consists of a partially ordered set, called ""time"" and successively defined concepts such as ""time-segment"", ""duration"", ""time-segment relation"", ""tense"", ""reference time"", and ""tense marker"". This model is justified by making informal arguments, by giving English language examples, and by showing that it is a generalization of several other systems. A computer question answering program, ""Chronos"", which uses the concepts of tense and time-segment relations, illustrates and supports the validity of the model. Chronos is shown to be a simple program which nevertheless can understand most of the temporal meaning in a sentence."
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
0004-3702
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16396

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