The Formal Language of Predicate Logic

Semantic Syntax (SeSyn), originally called Generative Semantics, is an offshoot of Chomskyan generative grammar (ChoGG), rejected by Chomsky and his school in the late 1960s. SeSyn is the theory of algorithmical grammars producing the well-formed sentences of a language L from the corresponding semantic input, the Semantic Analysis (SA), represented as a traditional tree structure diagram in a specific formal language of incremental predicate logic with quantifying and qualifying operators (including the truth functions), and with all lexical items filled in. A SeSyn-type grammar is thus by definition transformational, but not generative. The SA originates in cognition in a manner that is still largely mysterious, but its actual form can be distilled from the Surface Structure (SS) of the sentences of L following the principles set out in SeSyn. In this presentation we provide a more or less technical résumé of the SeSyn theory. A comparison is made with ChoGG-type grammars, which are rejected on account of their intrinsic unsuitability as a cognitive-realist grammar model. The ChoGG model follows the pattern of a 1930s neopositivist Carnap-type grammar for formal logical languages. Such grammars are random sentence generators, whereas, obviously, (nonpathological) humans are not. A ChoGG-type grammar is fundamentally irreconcilable with a mentalist-realist theory of grammar. The body of the paper consists in a demonstration of the production of an English and a French sentence, the latter containing a classic instance of the cyclic rule of Predicate Raising (PR), essential in the general theory of clausal complementation yet steadfastly repudiated in ChoGG for reasons that have never been clarified. The processes and categories defined in SeSyn are effortlessly recognised in languages all over the world, whether indigenous or languages of a dominant culture—taking into account language-specific values for the general theoretical parameters involved. This property makes SeSyn particularly relevant for linguistic typology, which now ranks as the most promising branch of linguistics but has so far conspicuously lacked an adequate theoretical basis.

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Banking Meaning Representations from Treebanks

Linguistic Issues in Language Technology ◽

10.33011/lilt.v7i.1269 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Alastair Butler ◽

Kei Yoshimoto

Keyword(s):

Evaluation System ◽

Formal Language ◽

Predicate Logic ◽

Higher Order ◽

Central Component ◽

Information State ◽

Syntactic Information ◽

The Evaluation System

This paper describes a method to convert existing treebanks with syntactic information into banks of meaning representations. The central component is a system of evaluation for a small formal language with respect to an information state. Inputs to the evaluation system are formal language expressions obtained from the conversion of parsed representations conforming to (Penn Treebank Project) guidelines. Outputs from the evaluation system are Davidsonian (higher-order) predicate logic meaning representations. Having a system of evaluation as the basis for generating meaning representations makes possible accepting input with minimal conversion from existing treebanks and from the tools used to construct treebanks. Results of having built corresponding banks of meaning representations from available treebanks are discussed.

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Learnability

DAIMI Report Series ◽

10.7146/dpb.v14i199.7471 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 14 (199) ◽

Author(s):

Gudmund Skovbjerg Frandsen

Keyword(s):

Mathematical Model ◽

Probability Distribution ◽

Finite Number ◽

Propositional Logic ◽

Formal Language ◽

Predicate Logic ◽

Recognition Algorithm ◽

Specific Class ◽

Finite Sets ◽

Specific Concept

<p>Les Valiant has recently conceived a remarkable mathematical model of learnability. The originality appears through several facets of the model. Objects belonging to a specific concept are given a measure of naturalness in the form of a probability distribution. The learning of a concept takes place by means of a protocol that among other tools allows the use of a source of natural examples. A concept is learnable if a recognition algorithm can be synthesized within a polynomial number of steps. The recognition algorithm is allowed to be incorrect for an adjustable fraction of inputs measured with respect to naturalness.</p><p>Technically the model is based on the propositional logic over a finite number of Boolean variables. However, the underlying ideas are quite universal and can be realised by means of an almost arbitrary formal language, which we will demonstrate in this note. A single concept may include infinitely many objects within a formal language frame. Fortunately we can learn such concepts from finite sets of examples only. We shall prove a specific class of concepts to be learnable within the nontrivial formal language of predicate logic.</p>

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The role of linguistic gender marking in brand recognition and behavioral intentions in the formal language system of Russian

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e621092012-037 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Yuliya Komarova ◽

Rebecca Naylor

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Intentions ◽

Formal Language ◽

Language System ◽

Brand Recognition

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Automated Indexing of SNOMED Statements into ICD

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1635494 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 26 (03) ◽

pp. 93-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

F. Wingert

Keyword(s):

Formal Language ◽

Program System ◽

Icd Codes

SummaryA formal language is presented which is used to generate a transformation table for mapping SNOMED statements to ICD codes. Non-terminal symbols define parts of the SNOMED space, the highest order of which corresponds to ICD categories. Performance of the corresponding program system and remaining problems are described.

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Da eine oder mehrere betroffen …

Zeitschrift für Germanistische Linguistik ◽

10.1515/zgl-2020-0002 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 47-100

Author(s):

Melitta Gillmann

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Formal Language ◽

Subordinate Clause ◽

Matrix Clause ◽

Very High Frequency ◽

Corpus Study ◽

Causal Relations ◽

Legal Texts ◽

The Matrix ◽

Very High

AbstractBased on a corpus study conducted using the GerManC corpus (1650–1800), the paper sketches the functional and sociosymbolic development of subordinate clause constructions introduced by the subjunctor da ‘since’ in different text genres. In the second half of the 17th and the first half of the 18th century, the da clauses were characterized by semantic vagueness: Besides temporal, spatial and causal relations, the subjunctor established conditional, concessive, and adversative links between clauses. The corpus study reveals that different genres are crucial to the readings of da clauses. Spatial and temporal usages, for example, occur more often in sermons than in other genres. The conditional reading, in contrast, strongly tends to occur in legal texts, where it displays very high frequency. This could be the reason why da clauses carry indexical meaning in contemporary German and are associated with formal language. Over the course of the 18th century, the causal usages increase in all genres. Surprisingly, these causal da clauses tend to be placed in front of the matrix clause despite the overall tendency of causal clauses to follow the matrix clause.

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Three Types of Architectural Educational Strategies (AES) in Sustainable Buildings for Learning Environments in Canada

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13158166 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 8166

Author(s):

Jean-Pierre Chupin ◽

Morteza Hazbei ◽

Karl-Antoine Pelchat

Keyword(s):

Learning Environments ◽

Formal Language ◽

Quantitative Approach ◽

Practical Approach ◽

Future Research ◽

Educational Strategies ◽

Sustainable Buildings ◽

Sustainable Architecture ◽

Distinctive Features ◽

Advanced Knowledge

This article explores a trend provisionally called “eco-didacticism” observable for nearly 15 years in art, design and architecture. The corpus concentrates on learning centres as buildings meant to diffuse advanced knowledge in the field of sustainable architecture. We found evidence of additional educational intentions to the pedagogical or scientific programs that these buildings have already been mandated to host and support. A variety of practices or devices have sometimes been added to the architecture, sometimes integrated, while others determine the overall structuring of these educational buildings. Seven cases of “learning centres” built in Canada between 2004 and 2018 have been screened through three epistemological filters distinguishing forms of “architectural didactics”: 1—a labeling often quantitative approach, 2—an experiential or practical approach, 3—a visually narrative or iconic approach. While outlining definitions of these Architectural Educational Strategies (AES), we offer initial explanations for their distinctive features. It appears that architects, designers and critics altogether operate on the belief that forms of architectural communication can operate as elements of a language that would be accessible to non-experts. Our conclusion indicates how future research could question the very possibility of giving lessons through formal language and aesthetic features.

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Closed Structure

Journal of Philosophical Logic ◽

10.1007/s10992-021-09598-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Fritz ◽

Harvey Lederman ◽

Gabriel Uzquiano

Keyword(s):

Formal Language ◽

Syntactic Structure ◽

Natural Extension ◽

Propositional Attitudes ◽

Higher Order ◽

Order Logic ◽

Bertrand Russell ◽

Structured Propositions ◽

Higher Order Logic ◽

Closed Structure

AbstractAccording to the structured theory of propositions, if two sentences express the same proposition, then they have the same syntactic structure, with corresponding syntactic constituents expressing the same entities. A number of philosophers have recently focused attention on a powerful argument against this theory, based on a result by Bertrand Russell, which shows that the theory of structured propositions is inconsistent in higher order-logic. This paper explores a response to this argument, which involves restricting the scope of the claim that propositions are structured, so that it does not hold for all propositions whatsoever, but only for those which are expressible using closed sentences of a given formal language. We call this restricted principle Closed Structure, and show that it is consistent in classical higher-order logic. As a schematic principle, the strength of Closed Structure is dependent on the chosen language. For its consistency to be philosophically significant, it also needs to be consistent in every extension of the language which the theorist of structured propositions is apt to accept. But, we go on to show, Closed Structure is in fact inconsistent in a very natural extension of the standard language of higher-order logic, which adds resources for plural talk of propositions. We conclude that this particular strategy of restricting the scope of the claim that propositions are structured is not a compelling response to the argument based on Russell’s result, though we note that for some applications, for instance to propositional attitudes, a restricted thesis in the vicinity may hold some promise.

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