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}
}
Downloads: 0
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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","bibtex":"@MastersThesis{\t edmonds8,\n author\t= {Philip Edmonds},\n title\t\t= {A computational model of collaboration on reference in\n\t\t direction-giving dialogues},\n school\t= {Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto},\n month\t\t= {October},\n year\t\t= {1993},\n note\t\t= {Published as technical report CSRI-289.},\n abstract\t= {<P>In a conversation, a speaker sometimes has to refer to\n\t\t an object that is not previously known to the hearer. This\n\t\t type of reference occurs frequently in dialogues where the\n\t\t speaker is giving directions to a particular place. To make\n\t\t a reference, the speaker attempts to build a description of\n\t\t the object that will allow the hearer to identify it when\n\t\t she later reaches it.</p> <P>This thesis presents a\n\t\t computational model of how an agent collaborates on\n\t\t reference in direction-giving dialogues. Viewing language\n\t\t as goal-oriented behaviour, we encode route descriptions,\n\t\t referring expressions, and discourse actions in the\n\t\t planning paradigm. This allows an agent to construct plans\n\t\t that achieve communicative goals by means of surface speech\n\t\t actions, and to infer plans and goals from these actions.\n\t\t The basis is that a referring expression plan is acceptable\n\t\t to an agent if she is confident that the plan is adequate\n\t\t as an executable identification plan. 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