PROGRAMMER: A Language for Writing Grammars

Abstract

This memo describes PROGRAMMER, a parser for natural language. It consists of a language for writing grammars in the form of programs, and an interpreter which can use these grammars to parse sentence. PROGRAMMER is one part of an integrated system being written for the computer comprehension of natural language. The system will carry on a discourse in English, accepting data statements, answering questions, and carrying out commands. It has a verbally integrated structure, to perform parsing, semantic analysis, and deduction concurrently, and to use the results of each t guide the course of the entire process. This interaction is possible because all three aspects are written in the form of programs. This will allow the system to make full use of its "intelligence" (including non-linguistic knowledge about the subject being discussed) in interpreting the meaning of sentences.