Zipf's law states that if words of language are ranked in the order of decreasing frequency in texts, the frequency of a word is inversely proportional to its rank. It is very reliably observed in the data, but to date it escaped satisfactory theoretical explanation. This article suggests that Zipf's law may result from a hierarchical organization…

This study examined whether singular/plural marking in a language helps children learn the meanings of the words "one," "two," and "three." First, CHILDES data in English, Russian (which marks singular/plural), and Japanese (which does not) were compared for frequency, variability, and contexts of number-word use.…

Paper presented during a colloquium on mathematical linguistics at the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, May 26, 1972. (RS)

This paper explains a method of semantic analysis developed in the course of a natural-language research project that led to the computer implementation of the Multistore Parser. Positing an interlinguistic substratum of semantic particles of several different types (e.g. substantive, attributive, developmental, relational), a method is…

Original version of this paper appeared in "Voprosy jazykoznanija", v5, p37-48, 1971. (DD)

Study of the linguistic means related to the occupation and non-occupation of Leerstellen'' (empty spaces) initiated by semantic and syntactic valence, as in the elliptical usage: Die Henne legt wieder. (Eier)'' (The hen is laying again. YeggsI). (RS)

The augmented transition network described in this report was developed in the course of work in semantic interpretation in the context of a computer system which answers English questions. In order to provide mechanical input for the semantic interpreter, a parsing program based on the notion of a "recursive transition network grammar" was…

The development of computer language and analogs capable of interpreting and processing natural language found in elementary mathematics is discussed. Working with linguistic theories in combination with the special characteristics of elementary mathematics, the author has developed algorithms for the computer to accomplish the above task. (JP)

Paper presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Cleveland, Ohio, May 1972. (DD)

Special issue devoted to the study of generative grammar in German-speaking countries. (VM)

The author outlines the construction of a somewhat different machine than that envisioned by Turing (with which it would be possible to converse, presumably by telephone or telegraph, and which would be capable of masquerading as a human being). The machine envisaged by the author would be capable of doing comprehension exercises. Such a machine…

The role of lexicometry is to furnish statistical data on all measurable aspects of vocabulary. This study presents an inventory of works on the choice of elements of the German language and outlines the methods of compiling vocabulary with specific reference to the method of choosing words useful for the teaching of a language. It also attempts…

Language teaching requires textbook material that contains the most frequent concepts of a language. The computer brings its tremendous information processing ability to the task of establishing word frequency rankings, but the computer is limited to counting word-forms and not semantic concepts. The most recent word frequency dictionaries, in…