2019 ACL ACL 2019

The Rationality of Semantic Change

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigates the mutual effects over time of semantically related function words on each other’s distribution over syntactic environments. Words that can have the same meaning are observed to have opposite trends of change in frequency across different syntactic structures which correspond to the shared meaning. This phenomenon is demonstrated to have a rational basis: it increases communicative efficiency by prioritizing words differently in the environments on which they compete.

🌉 Interdisciplinary Bridge — Interdisciplinary and Machine Learning
🧭 Keyword Pioneer — syntactic environment
🐝 Cross-Pollinator — Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Computer Vision, Data Science & Analytics, Deep Learning, Interdisciplinary, Knowledge & Reasoning, Machine Learning, Mathematics & Optimization, Natural Language Processing, Speech & Audio

Authors