GLP: A Linguistic Processor

Abstract

GLP is a linguistic processor for the analysis and generation of natural language [1] which will be integrated into a speech unterstanding system [2]. GLP is an extension of the General Syntactic Processor [3], which implements a multiprocessing scheme. To quote Kay, it uses two central data structures, an agenda of tasks to be carried out, and a chart. The chart is a directed graph consisting of edges and vertices which represents the utterance being analyzed or generated together with its constituents etc. Both encapsulate completely the state of the entire processor at any moment during tis operation. The whole processing is controlled by a monitor which generates and administrates tasks. Tasks are selected according to scheduling rules, which implement the processing strategy, and carried out by an interpreter. They are generated out of the rules of the grammar which is a procedural one similar to an ATN. It can be seen as a directed graph in which the permissible transitions between states are represented by arcs. To each arc operations are attached which determine the applicability of the transition and cause side effects. The typical task is an attempt to apply an arc of the grammar to an edge in the chart. In the case of success, new information will be added to the chart.