In this paper, we propose a generalization of Centering Theory (CT) (Grosz, Joshi, Weinstein (1995)) called Veins Theory (VT), which extends the applicability of centering rules from local to global discourse. A key facet of the theory involves the identification of <> over discourse structure trees such as those defined in RST, which delimit domains of referential accessibility for each...

In this paper we consider how initiative is managed in dialogue. We propose that initiative is subordinate to the intentional hierarchy of discourse structure. In dialogues from the TRAINS corpus we nd that inside a segment initiated by one speaker, the other speaker only makes two types of contributions: a special kind of acknowledgment we call forward acknowledgments, and short contributions ...

Research on Question Answering is focused mainly on classifying the question type and finding the answer, while presenting the answer in a way that suits the user’s needs has received little attention. This paper shows how existing question answering systems can be improved by exploiting Rhetorical Structure Theory-based summarization techniques in order to extract more than just the exact answ...

Research on the factors and processes involved in pronoun interpretation has to date concentrated on anaphoric pronouns. Results have supported the now widely-held view that discourse understanding involves the creation of a partial, mental model of the situation described through the discourse. Anaphoric pronouns are taken to refer to elements of that model (often called discourse referents or...

The purpose of the study reported in this paper is to investigate how local focusing structure, analysed in terms of Centering Theory (Grosz, Joshi & Weinstein, 1995), and global d iscourse structure, analysed in terms of discourse segments and discourse segment purposes (Grosz & Sidner, 1986), interact. Swedish dialogue was analysed according to Centering Theory and Grosz and Sidners (1986) di...

Following recent trends in the formal analysis of discourse particles, a class of so-called counterargumentative/reformulative Spanish discourse particles is analyzed as a structured group comprising three types of adverbs of quantification, with universal, existential or negative force. Several arguments are presented in support of this hypothesis, as well as of the claim that these particles ...

We evaluated the predictions of Grosz and Sidner’s theory of anaphoric accessibility using a corpus of tutorial dialogues whose discourse structure was annotated according to Relational Discourse (RDA) Analysis. We found support for Moser and Moore’s proposal that only segments with an intentional core should be viewed as introducing new focus spaces; we also found that both embedded cores and ...

A text parsing component designed to be part of a system that assists students in academic reading an writing is presented. The parser can automatically add a relational discourse structure annotation to a scientific article that a user wants to explore. The discourse structure employed is defined in an XML format and is based the Rhetorical Structure Theory. The architecture of the parser comp...

Theories of discourse structure hypothesize a hierarchical structure of discourse segments, typically tree-structured. While substantial work has been done on identifying and automatically recognizing the textual and prosodic correlates of discourse structure in monologue, comparable cues for dialogue or multiparty conversation, and in particular humancomputer dialogue remain relatively less st...

We present an approach to patent claim simplification which segments claim sentences into clausal discourse units, transforms them into complete sentences, establishes coreference relations and builds a discourse structure between discourse units. The four stages are necessary to allow for the syntactic analysis of otherwise unparsable claim sentences and their regeneration using discourse stru...