Franz Dotter, Johann Leitner
A three-dimensional
analysis software
for languages
Budapest
8. 12. 2012
Basic assumptions
• (Body and) brain can be modeled as a 3D-network (containing some
specialisations)
• As a result of evolution (including socio-cultural evolution), humans
perceive and process the environment as "scenes" and "scripts"
(structured gestalts)
• These "scenes" and "scripts" directly influence(d) the categories of
language, e.g. the quality of perception relates to word categories:
Quality of perception
Main category in language
Person/thing/object
Noun
Action/event
Verb
Property of a person/thing
Adjective
Property of an action
Adverbs
Location/time
Adverb(ial phrase)s
Evaluation
Sentential adverb
Relation between entities
Conjunction/adposition
Basic assumptions 2
and roles/functions of participants in the scene or other
cognitive elements relate to different clauses/constituents,
e.g.:
role/function
Main type of clause
Agent/Topic/Theme
Subject
Action
Predicate
Patient
Object
Orientation in space/time
Locative/temporal adverbial
Evaluation, cause etc.
Modal adverbial
Basic structure of the software
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A cognitive and a language specific level of representation, both conceived as
networks (i.e. having "nodes" = elements and "links" = relations) in direct
connection (i.e. no intermediate further module or system).
The cognitive level is three-dimensional, related to the hypothesis that the
brain (not only the visual cortex?) "constructs" a 3D-image of reality.
The language specific level is two-dimensional, related to the hypothesis that
this level can be described from the perspective of the ordering of signs using
only two dimensions.
The cognitive and the language specific level networks are linked together in
order to represent language production/reception/processing.
The format of both levels is that of a construction kit which - by differentiation
of form, colour and texture - represents cognitive or language categories and
subcategories.
Two main functions:
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Practical instrument for visualising cognitive linguistic analysis;
Search and statistical analysis function concerning any element or combination of elements on
both levels.
Descriptional inventory
• Language specific level: categories detected
by standard linguistic analysis of the
codings in different languages
• Cognitive level: "(re)constructed" by using
"cognitive" interpretations of possible
elements or features working "behind" the
actual codings
Format of descriptional elements
• Entities are nodes, relations are links.
• Nodes and links can be differentated by
form, colour and texture.
• Every "attentional element" is given as an
entity.
• Cognitive entities are aggregated to units of
"higher level" (= hypothesized evolutionary
and language-induced developments from
early single-element-constructions reflected
by language use)
Original requirements
• Generalized 3D editor for modelling scenes
• Scenes consist of:
– Nodes/elements
– Links/relations
– Layers
• Huge repository of node types (shape, colour, texture, ...)
• Pattern matching feature:
– Build up repository
– Look up matching models or sub-models
• Proof of concept prototype
The architecture
A sample model (scene)
Pros
• XML is here to stay forever
• Enough attributes for creating categories
and sub-categories
• Code is fully in our hands
• Requirements are stable
• Runs on most machines
And finally...
...the live demo