COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT
HPSG Grammars and Typed Feature Formalisms
Advanced, hands-on course taught by
The Edinburgh University Language Technology Group
December 11-14, 1995
Edinburgh
This course will provide practical and theoretical experience for people
wishing to learn about today's state-of-the-art grammar writing
technology. At the end of the course, participants will be able to write
sign-based grammars using leading-edge language engineering tools. This
is a hands-on course: each participant will have access to substantial
computing facilities throughout the course, and assisted practical
exercises are integrated into the course structure.
Background
Modern constraint-based grammars are the next logical step for people
familiar either with Prolog or unification-based formalisms such as
Generalised Phrase Structure Grammar (GPSG). A recent constraint-based
approach is Head Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG) [Pollard and Sag,
1994]. HPSG has taken the computational linguistics community by storm
and is the driving force in research into grammars that can be readily
integrated into practical application systems.
Syllabus
This intensive, lab-based course will bring you up-to-date with the above
developments, providing you with:
- An introduction to today's state-of-the-art typed feature
formalisms, especially ALE (Attribute Logic Engine) and
CUF (Comprehensive Unfication Formalism).
Both ALE from Carnegie-Mellon University and CUF from the
University of Stuttgart provide a typed unification-based engine
for developing, testing and debugging constraint-based grammars
such as HPSG grammars.
- An introduction to HPSG based on Chapter 9 of [Pollard and Sag,1994],
which contains the most recent advancements of the theory.
- An in-depth guide to programming in typed feature formalisms.
- A detailed look at what is involved in developing complex grammars for
particular domains.
Participants in the course will:
- Learn about HPSG.
- Use the latest tools and technology for developing HPSG grammars.
- Acquire skills in designing and debugging grammars.
Dates
The course is 4 days long and is next scheduled for December 11-14 1995.
Due to the hands-on nature of the course, there is a limit to class numbers.
Early registration is advisable.
Teaching Staff
The classes are taught by staff of Edinburgh's Language Technology Group:
Suresh Manandhar (PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Edinburgh University) has
conducted research both in the logical foundations of constraint
formalisms and on their implementations.
Claire Grover (PhD in Linguistics, Essex University) has been
extensively involved in developing large grammars using constraint
formalisms.
Chris Brew (PhD in Experimental Psychology, Sussex University) has
conducted research in several areas including constraint-based
formalisms, systemic grammars and statistical methods.
Henry Thompson (PhD in Linguistics, University of California) is reader
at the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Edinburgh University and
has been involved in research in computational linguistics,
data-intensive linguistics, language corpora and corpus management.
Venue
The classes will be taught at the Human Commmunication Research Centre in
Edinburgh.
Contact
The fee for the course is 650 pounds (industrial), 550 pounds (academic) and
250 pounds (student). Please contact:
for registration details: for course details:
Heike Stoldt (Course Administration) Suresh Manandhar (Course Co-ordinator)
Human Communication Research Centre Human Communication Research Centre
University of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh
2 Buccleuch Place 2 Buccleuch Place
Edinburgh EH8 9LW Edinburgh EH8 9LW
Tel: +44 131 650 4427 Tel: +44 131 650 4631
Fax: +44 131 650 4587 Fax: +44 131 650 4587
Email: H.Stoldt@ed.ac.uk Email: Suresh.Manandhar@ed.ac.uk