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Optimal Ambiguity Packing in Context-Free Parsers with Interleaved Unification

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New Developments in Parsing Technology

Part of the book series: Text, Speech and Language Technology ((TLTB,volume 23))

Abstract

Ambiguity packing is a well known technique for enhancing the efficiency of context-free parsers. However, in the case of unification-augmented context-free parsers where parsing is interleaved with feature unification, the propagation of feature structures imposes difficulties on the ability of the parser to effectively perform ambiguity packing. We demonstrate that a clever heuristic for prioritizing the execution order of grammar rules and parsing actions can achieve a high level of ambiguity packing that is provably optimal. We present empirical evaluations of the proposed technique, performed with both a Generalized LR parser and a chart parser, that demonstrate its effectiveness.

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Lavie, A., Rosé, C.P. (2004). Optimal Ambiguity Packing in Context-Free Parsers with Interleaved Unification. In: Bunt, H., Carroll, J., Satta, G. (eds) New Developments in Parsing Technology. Text, Speech and Language Technology, vol 23. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2295-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-2295-6_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-2293-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-2295-1

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