Figuring out most plausible interpretation from spatial descriptions

Abstract

The problem we want to handle in this paper is vagueness. A notion of space, which we basically have, plays an important part in the faculty of thinking and speech. In this paper, we concentrate on a particular class of spatial descriptions, namely descriptions about positional relations on a two-dimensional space. A theoretical device we present in this paper is called the potential model. The potential model provides a means for accumulating from fragmentary information. It is possible to derive maximally plausible interpretation from a chunk of information accumulated in the model. When new information is given, the potential model is modefied so that that new information is taken into account. As a result, the interpretations with maximal plausibility may change. A program called SPRINT(SPatial Relation IN-Terpreter) reflecting our theory is in the way of construction.