Improved portability and parsing through interactive acquisition of semantic information

Abstract

This paper presents SPQR (Selectional Pattern Queries and Responses), a module of the PUNDIT text-processing system designed to facilitate the acquisition of domain-specific semantic information, and to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the parser. SPQR operates by interactively and incrementally collecting information about the semantic acceptability of certain lexical co-occurrence patterns (e.g., subject-verb-object) found in partially constructed parses. The module has proved to be a valuable tool for porting PUNDIT to new domains and acquiring essential semantic information about the domains. Preliminary results also indicate that SPQR causes a threefold reduction in the number of parses found, and about a 40% reduction in total parsing time.