Routledge dictionary of language and linguistics - Developers

A-Z 107
augmented transition network (ATN)
grammar
Formalism used in computational linguistics 1 for analyzing (and generating) sentences,
which was developed around 1970 as an alternative model to transformational
grammar that could be easily implemented on computers. Instead of phrase structure
rules (PS rules), augmented transition network grammar uses an equivalent set of finite
state automata ( finite state automaton, formal language) that are called up
recursively. Corresponding to the expansions of PS rules are permissible transitions
between automata states; the working of transformations (e.g. in word order,
congruence, active-passive-converse, control, etc.) is modeled by checking and
modifying the register contents of the computer (through auxiliary functions). The latter
represent augmentations to the simpler (recursive) network grammars that are equivalent
to context-free (PS) grammars. Moreover, it is possible to associate any kind of
actions—for example, ones which form tree diagrams, semantic representations, etc.—
with the transitions between states. In this way, the augmented transition network
grammar is not only a recognizing automaton, but also a transducer. Since the use of
registers is, in principle, not subject to any limitations and all the possibilities of a
conventional programming language can be used, the augmented transition network
grammar is as powerful as the universal Turing machine. For the application of
augmented transition network grammars to psycholinguistics, see Halle, Bresnan, and
Miller (1978).
References
Bates, M. 1978. The theory and practice of augmented transition network grammars. In L.Bolc
(ed.), Natural language communication with computers. Berlin. 191–259.
Bobrow, D. and B.Fraser. 1969. An augmented state transition network analysis procedure.
Proceedings of the IJCAI 69. 557–67.
Halle, M., J.Bresnan, and G.Miller (eds) 1978. Linguistic theory and psychological reality.
Cambridge, MA.
Kaplan, R. 1972. Augmented transition networks as psychological models of sentence
comprehension. AI 3. 77–100.
Rumelhart, D. 1977. Introduction to human information processing. New York.
Thorne, J. et al. 1968. The syntactic analysis of English by machine. In D.Mitchie (ed.), Machine
intelligence. New York.
Wanner, E. and M.Maratsos. 1978. An ATN approach to comprehension. In M.Halle, J.Bresnan,
and G.Miller (eds), Linguistic theory and psychological reality. Cambridge, MA. 119–61.
Woods, W.A. 1970. Transition network grammars for natural language analysis. Communications
of the ACM 13. 591–606.
formal language