4.7.

Advance Knowledge Representation Techniques:

[Link] Dependency (CD)

● CD theory was developed by Schank in 1973 to 1975 to represent the

meaning of NL sentences.

– It helps in drawing inferences

– It is independent of the language

● CD representation of a sentence is not built using words in the sentence

rather built using conceptual primitives which give the intended
meanings of words.

● CD provides structures and specific set of primitives from which

representation can be built.

Primitive Acts of CD theory

● ATRANS Transfer of an abstract relationship (i.e. give)

● PTRANS Transfer of the physical location of an object (e.g., go)

● PROPEL Application of physical force to an object (e.g. push)

● MOVE Movement of a body part by its owner (e.g. kick)

● GRASP Grasping of an object by an action (e.g. throw)

● INGEST Ingesting of an object by an animal (e.g. eat)

● EXPEL Expulsion of something from the body of an animal

(e.g. cry)

● MTRANS Transfer of mental information (e.g. tell)

● MBUILD Building new information out of old (e.g decide)

● SPEAK Producing of sounds (e.g. say)

● ATTEND Focusing of a sense organ toward a stimulus

(e.g. listen)
Conceptual category

● There are four conceptual categories

− ACT Actions {one of the CD primitives}

− PP Objects {picture producers}

− AA Modifiers of actions {action aiders}

− PA Modifiers of PP’s {picture aiders}

Example:

I gave a book to the man. CD representation is as follows:

● It should be noted that this representation is same for different saying

with same meaning. For example

– I gave the man a book,

– The man got book from me,

– The book was given to man by me etc.

Few conventions

● Arrows indicate directions of dependency

● Double arrow indicates two way link between actor and action.

O – for the object case relation

R – for the recipient case relation

P – for past tense

D - destination
 Some of Conceptualizations of CD

● Dependency structures are themselves conceptualization and can serve

as components of larger dependency structures.

● The dependencies among conceptualization correspond to semantic

relations among the underlying concepts.

● We will list the most important ones allowed by CD.

Remaining can be seen from the book.

Rule 1: PP  ACT

● It describes the relationship between an actor and the event he or she

causes.

– This is a two-way dependency, since neither actor nor event can be

considered primary.

– The letter P in the dependency link indicates past tense.

● Example: John ran

CD Rep: John  PTRANS

Rule 2: ACT  PP

● It describes the relationship between a ACT and a PP (object) of ACT.

– The direction of the arrow is toward the ACT since the context of
the specific ACT determines the meaning of the object relation.

– Example: John pushed the bike

CD Rep: John  PROPEL  bike

Rule 3: PP  PP

● It describes the relationship between two PP’s, one of which belongs to

the set defined by the other.

● Example: John is doctor

CD Rep: John  doctor

Rule 4: PP  PP

● It describes the relationship between two PP’s, one of which provides a

particular kind of information about the other.

– The three most common types of information to be provided in this

way are possession ( shown as POSS-BY), location (shown as LOC),
and physical containment (shown as CONT).

– The direction of the arrow is again toward the concept being

described.

– Example: John’s dog

poss-by

CD Rep dog  John

Rule 5: PP  PA

● It describes the relationship between a PP and a PA that is asserted to

describe it.

– PA represents states of PP such as height, health etc.

● Example: John is fat

CD Rep John  weight (> 80)

Rule 6: PP  PA

● It describes the relationship between a PP and an attribute that already

has been predicated of it.

– Direction is towards PP being described.

– Example: Smart John

CD Rep John  smart

● It describes the relationship between an ACT and the source and the
recipient of the ACT

● Example: John took the book from Mary

● It describes the relationship that describes the change in state.

● Example: Tree grows

● It describes the relationship between one conceptualization and another

that causes it.

– Here {x} is causes {y} i.e., if x then y

Example: Bill shot Bob

 ● It describes the relationship between one conceptualization with another
that is happening at the time of the first.

– Here {y} is happening while {x} is in progress.

– Example: While going home I saw a snake

I am going home

I saw a snake

4.7.2. Generation of CD representations:

Sentences CD Representations
p o d ?
Jenny cried Jenny  EXPEL  tears
eyes
poss-by 
Jenny

p d India
Mike went to India Mike  PTRANS
? (source is unknown)
Mary read a novel p o d CP(Mary)
Mary  MTRANS  info
novel
 i (instrument)

p o d novel
Mary  ATTEND  eyes
?
 Sentence CD Representation

o r One
Since One  INGEST  durgs
drugs can Mouth
kill, I
stopped. c
health = -10
One
health > -10

tfp o r I
I  INGEST  durgs
mouth

Sentence CD Representation

John  Do1
p o r Mike
John warned John  MTRANS
Mike with dire John
consequence.

f
State bad
 poss-by
Mike

Poss-by
r memory  Mike
Mike  MTRANS
o John
Mike  Do2

Mike
 poss-by
John  Do1 State bad
f