Joint Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Natural Language and Computer Science (NLCS'14) & 1st International Workshop on Natural Language Services for Reasoners (NLSR 2014)
Authors
Abstract
This volume contains the papers presented at NLCS'14, the Second Workshop on Natural Language and Computer Science \& NLSR 2014, Natural Language Services for Reasoners, FLoC Workshops, affliated to RTA-TLCA joint conference, Vienna Summer of Logic, July 17-18, 2014, Vienna, Austria.Natural Language in Computer Science (NLCS) is a workshop on the interface between computer science and linguistics, covering a wide range of topics connected to logic and the larger VSL. The overall theme is the two-way interplay between formal tools developed in logic, category theory, and theoretical computer science on the one hand, and natural language syntax and semantics on the other.
Formal tools coming from logic and related areas theory are important for natural language processing,especially for computational semantics. Moreover, work on these tools borrows heavily from all areas of theoretical computer science. In the other direction, applications having to do with natural language have inspired developments on the formal side. The NLCS workshop invites papers on both topics, as well as on the combination between logical methods and statistical methods.
Specific topics include, but are not limited to:
* linguistic,computational and logical aspects of the interface between syntax and semantics;
* logical aspects of linguistic theories;
* logic for semantics of lexical items, sentences, discourse and dialog;
* formal tools in textual inference, such as logics for natural language inference;
* applications of category theory in semantics;
* linear logic in semantics;
* formal approaches to unifying data-driven (quantitative, statistical) and declarative (logical) approaches to semantics;
* natural language processing tools using logic.
Natural Language Services for Reasoners (NLSR) is a forum to gather researchers interested in the natural language aspects of:
* Multilingual on-line accessible mathematical content;
* Advanced tools for automated and interactive theorem proving and problem solving;
* Rigorous reasoning methods and tools;
* Formal methods and tools (making them more accessible to non-experts);
*Generating explanations from business rules.
The complexity of ATP and ITP makes them only usable by experts. One of the cornerstones of addressing a more general audience is the ability to be queried and to generate results in natural language. This necessity is palpable from the fact that many systems in the TP community try hard to make proofs as close as possible to the ``natural language'' of mathematicians.
In the area of education, intelligent tools such as automated and interactive theorem provers, the automatic discovery of properties, tools, problems repositories, the formalisation of theories fragments, etc., can bring a whole new dimension to mathematical education. The current development of these tools is focused on usability for experts, and it is still a major challenge to make such tools ready for widespread use. However, for some tools it seems to be the right time to begin addressing the next challenge, i.e., to link and adapt them for specific educational needs.
On the side of language technology, some dialog managers use theorem provers to drive the underlying logic and controlled natural languages exist based on abstract representations compatible to the ones used in reasoners. A third aspect comes from formal representation of mathematics with the aim of automatic checking or translation of existing material.
This year there were 19 extended abstracts submitted to NLCS from which 16 were accepted; also 3 extended abstracts were submitted to NLSR from which 2 were accepted.
We thank all those who have contributed to this meeting. The NLSR sponsor, the Association for Logic, Language and Information (FoLLI) (http://www.folli.info/) and most importantly, we thank the invited speakers: Aarne Ranta, Anne Abeillé and Laure Vieu, the contributing authors, the referees, the members of the program committee and the local organizers, all of whose time and effort have contributed to the practical and scientific success of the meeting. Support from EasyChair is also gratefully acknowledged
July 17-18, 2014, Vienna
Valeria de Paiva
Walther Neuper
Pedro Quaresma
Christian Retoré
Lawrence S. Moss
Jordi Saludes