2011-12-16T00:11:43Z2011-12-16T00:11:43Zhttp://cogprints.org/id/eprint/7709This item is in the repository with the URL: http://cogprints.org/id/eprint/77092011-12-16T00:11:43ZThe Many Functions of Discourse Particles: A Computational Model of Pragmatic InterpretationWe present a connectionist model for the interpretation of discourse
particles in real dialogues that is based on neuronal
principles of categorization (categorical perception, prototype
formation, contextual interpretation). It can be shown that
discourse particles operate just like other morphological and
lexical items with respect to interpretation processes. The description
proposed locates discourse particles in an elaborate
model of communication which incorporates many different
aspects of the communicative situation. We therefore also
attempt to explore the content of the category discourse particle.
We present a detailed analysis of the meaning assignment
problem and show that 80%– 90% correctness for unseen discourse
particles can be reached with the feature analysis provided.
Furthermore, we show that ‘analogical transfer’ from
one discourse particle to another is facilitated if prototypes
are computed and used as the basis for generalization. We
conclude that the interpretation processes which are a part of
the human cognitive system are very similar with respect to
different linguistic items. However, the analysis of discourse
particles shows clearly that any explanatory theory of language
needs to incorporate a theory of communication processes.Gabriele Schelergscheler@gmail.comKerstin Fischer