We describe a language understanding model in which idioms, like other units of linguistic knowledge, are treated as constructions linking elements of form with elements of meaning. They may also, however, invoke additional metaphorical mappings that can actively constrain both the interpretation and acceptability of idiomatic expressions. A wide variety of idiomatic phenomena, including compos...

This paper deals with commonsense understanding of part-whole relations. A unifying definition for the different kinds of parts is proposed for one domain, that of rigid, man-made objects. First, the representation of objects via basic dimensions, reference systems and attributes is described. Then, different kinds of parts, based on the classification of Gerstl and Pribbenow (1996), are examin...

The paper shows that database reverse engineering (DBRE) needs several reasoning, techniques and tools that have been developed in the software engineering realm, and particularly in program understanding. Conversely, program understanding requires an in-depth comprehension of the semantics of the data. One of the process of the DBRE methodology we propose is dedicated to eliciting implicit str...

We describe three experiments that use priming methodology to investigate the nature of the abstract mental representations activated during pronoun resolution, in order to contribute to our understanding of how structural representations and semantic coherence representations influence pronoun interpretation. The results of Experiment 1 suggest that there exists a level of abstract anaphoric d...

This paper describes an approach to intelligent planning which employs a dependency network model to reason with direct, n-order, cumulative and cascading effects. The dependency network is a cyclic graph of nodes (persons, organizations, locations, resources, concepts, etc.) connected by weighted arcs that define the type and strength of dependency between a node pair. The network can be emplo...

This paper introduces GEOS, the first automated system to solve unaltered SAT geometry questions by combining text understanding and diagram interpretation. We model the problem of understanding geometry questions as submodular optimization, and identify a formal problem description likely to be compatible with both the question text and diagram. GEOS then feeds the description to a geometric s...

This paper introduces the concept of illness behavior to occupational therapists working with patients with acquired neurological impairments. The paper presents two case reports of patents with unequivocal severe brain trauma who demonstrated help-seeking and dependency behaviors that could not be accounted for by brain damage alone. Incorporating the illness behavior concept in an understandi...