A computational model of collaboration on reference in direction-giving dialogues. Edmonds, P. Master's thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, October, 1993. Published as technical report CSRI-289.
abstract   bibtex   

In a conversation, a speaker sometimes has to refer to an object that is not previously known to the hearer. This type of reference occurs frequently in dialogues where the speaker is giving directions to a particular place. To make a reference, the speaker attempts to build a description of the object that will allow the hearer to identify it when she later reaches it.

This thesis presents a computational model of how an agent collaborates on reference in direction-giving dialogues. Viewing language as goal-oriented behaviour, we encode route descriptions, referring expressions, and discourse actions in the planning paradigm. This allows an agent to construct plans that achieve communicative goals by means of surface speech actions, and to infer plans and goals from these actions. The basis is that a referring expression plan is acceptable to an agent if she is confident that the plan is adequate as an executable identification plan. By considering the salience of the features used in a referring expression plan, an agent can evaluate her confidence in its adequacy. Driven by the implicit intention of making plans mutually acceptable, the conversants collaborate until the hearer is confident in the adequacy of the current referring expression plan. In doing so, the conversants use suggestion and elaboration discourse actions that operate on the current plan. While collaborating, an agent is in a mental state that includes the intention to achieve the goal of having the direction recipient understand the directions, the plan the agents are currently considering, and a focus of attention into the plan. This collaborative state governs the discourse by sanctioning both the adoption of goals, and the mutual acceptance of plans. Reflecting the inherent symmetry in collaborative dialogue, the model can act as both speaker and hearer, and can play the roles of both the direction-giver and the recipient.

@MastersThesis{	  edmonds8,
  author	= {Philip Edmonds},
  title		= {A computational model of collaboration on reference in
		  direction-giving dialogues},
  school	= {Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto},
  month		= {October},
  year		= {1993},
  note		= {Published as technical report CSRI-289.},
  abstract	= {<P>In a conversation, a speaker sometimes has to refer to
		  an object that is not previously known to the hearer. This
		  type of reference occurs frequently in dialogues where the
		  speaker is giving directions to a particular place. To make
		  a reference, the speaker attempts to build a description of
		  the object that will allow the hearer to identify it when
		  she later reaches it.</p> <P>This thesis presents a
		  computational model of how an agent collaborates on
		  reference in direction-giving dialogues. Viewing language
		  as goal-oriented behaviour, we encode route descriptions,
		  referring expressions, and discourse actions in the
		  planning paradigm. This allows an agent to construct plans
		  that achieve communicative goals by means of surface speech
		  actions, and to infer plans and goals from these actions.
		  The basis is that a referring expression plan is acceptable
		  to an agent if she is confident that the plan is adequate
		  as an executable identification plan. By considering the
		  salience of the features used in a referring expression
		  plan, an agent can evaluate her confidence in its adequacy.
		  Driven by the implicit intention of making plans mutually
		  acceptable, the conversants collaborate until the hearer is
		  confident in the adequacy of the current referring
		  expression plan. In doing so, the conversants use
		  suggestion and elaboration discourse actions that operate
		  on the current plan. While collaborating, an agent is in a
		  mental state that includes the intention to achieve the
		  goal of having the direction recipient understand the
		  directions, the plan the agents are currently considering,
		  and a focus of attention into the plan. This collaborative
		  state governs the discourse by sanctioning both the
		  adoption of goals, and the mutual acceptance of plans.
		  Reflecting the inherent symmetry in collaborative dialogue,
		  the model can act as both speaker and hearer, and can play
		  the roles of both the direction-giver and the
		  recipient.</p>},
  download	= {http://ftp.cs.toronto.edu/pub/gh/Edmonds-MScthesis.pdf}
}

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