Sentence Analysis with LinkParser by Andor Magony PPKE-ITK, Language Technology 2004

© Andor Magony Introduction to English Syntax Bottom-up construction of the English Language:  subphonemic elements (eg.: aspiration: p h )  phonemes (eg.: mono-, di- & triphtongs)  morphemes (free & bound)  words (open & closed class items)  phrases (NP, VP, PP, AdjP, AdvP)  clauses (finite, nonfinite, verbless)  sentences (simple & multiple)  TEXT (according to S. Greenbaum & R. Quirk) Phonetics & Phonology Morphology SYNTAX Intertextual analysis

© Andor Magony Basics of Sentence Analysis 1 We were resting in the garden. S V ADVplace Example:

© Andor Magony Basics of Sentence Analysis 2 We were resting in the garden. S V PRED ADVplace Expressed by: NP VP PP HEAD in the garden Prep Prep Compl. DetHEAD Expressed by: NP Cl FIN

© Andor Magony Basics of Sentence Analysis 3 7 types of English kernel sentences: 1) S+V : Someone was laughing. 2) S+V+Od : My mother enjoys parties. 3) S+V+Cs : The country became independent. 4) S+V+Apl : We were resting in the garden. 5) S+V+Oi+Od : The wife gave him food. 6) S+V+Od+Co : I regard this book very boring. 7) S+V+Od+Apl : She put the keys on the table.

© Andor Magony Sentence Structures ENGLISH SENTENCE:  simple sentences (having only one clause)  kernel – containing one kernel clause  expanded – one kernel clause with additional inf.  multiple sentences (having more clauses)  compound – containing more coordinated clauses  complex – consists of one main clause but it has one or more subordinate clauses functioning as an element of the sentence

© Andor Magony Confusing Sentences  They found him a charming young wife. Direct-Indirect objects (S+V+Oi+Od)  I have received your letter yesterday. yesterday  postmodification!!! (S+V+Od)  Seeing that she was completely unaware of what she had done aroused an uncomfortable atmosphere between them. What is the subject? (S+V+Od+Asp) What is the subject? (S+V+Od+Asp)

© Andor Magony Link Parser  free, open source, written in C++  defines words with connectors  a left-pointing connector (+) connects with a right-pointing one (-)  connecting rules are implemented in the system  correct connecting points constitue a linkage  these correct linkages are parsed through a given sentence and get classified instantly  the results are illustrated in a tree (as well)

© Andor Magony Link Parser Example of a dictionary entry in LinkParser: Example of a dictionary entry in LinkParser: blah: A+;  The word "blah" forms an ‘A’ link, thus it can establish a linkage with an ‘A-’ word on the right Logical operators can also be used: Logical operators can also be used: blah: A+ & B+; blah: A+ or (B- & C+); etc.

© Andor Magony Link Parser The output tree of a sentence analysis: Ds Ds | +---A--+-Ss-+-PP-+ | +---A--+-Ss-+-PP-+ | | | | | | | | | | the black.a dog.n has gone the black.a dog.n has gone  Subject relation between "dog" and "has"  Past Participle relation between "has" and "gone„  Adjective relation between "black" and "dog"  Determiner relation between "the" and "dog"

© Andor Magony Resources & Recommendations For detailed information on LinkParser visit More on English Linguistics: Recommended readings: A Student’s Grammar of the English Language by Sidney Greenbaum & Randolph Quirk Longman, 1990