Discrete and Probabilistic Classifier-based Semantics

Staffan Larsson


Abstract
We present a formal semantics (a version of Type Theory with Records) which places classifiers of perceptual information at the core of semantics. Using this framework, we present an account of the interpretation and classification of utterances referring to perceptually available situations (such as visual scenes). The account improves on previous work by clarifying the role of classifiers in a hybrid semantics combining statistical/neural classifiers with logical/inferential aspects of meaning. The account covers both discrete and probabilistic classification, thereby enabling learning, vagueness and other non-discrete linguistic phenomena.
Anthology ID:
2020.pam-1.8
Volume:
Proceedings of the Probability and Meaning Conference (PaM 2020)
Month:
June
Year:
2020
Address:
Gothenburg
Editors:
Christine Howes, Stergios Chatzikyriakidis, Adam Ek, Vidya Somashekarappa
Venue:
PaM
SIG:
Publisher:
Association for Computational Linguistics
Note:
Pages:
62–68
Language:
URL:
https://aclanthology.org/2020.pam-1.8
DOI:
Bibkey:
Cite (ACL):
Staffan Larsson. 2020. Discrete and Probabilistic Classifier-based Semantics. In Proceedings of the Probability and Meaning Conference (PaM 2020), pages 62–68, Gothenburg. Association for Computational Linguistics.
Cite (Informal):
Discrete and Probabilistic Classifier-based Semantics (Larsson, PaM 2020)
Copy Citation:
PDF:
https://aclanthology.org/2020.pam-1.8.pdf