Computational Semantics with Functional Programming

A comprehensive introduction to computational semantics, showing students how to compute meaning using the functional programming language Haskell.

Computational semantics is the art and science of computing meaning in natural language. This comprehensive text shows how to compute meaning using the functional programming language Haskell. Looking at denotational meaning, operational meaning, and recent developments in logic, it will be invaluable to students of linguistics, logic, and functional programming.Computational semantics is the art and science of computing meaning in natural language. The meaning of a sentence is derived from the meanings of the individual words in it, and this process can be made so precise that it can be implemented on a computer. Designed for students of linguistics, computer science, logic and philosophy, this comprehensive text shows how to compute meaning using the functional programming language Haskell. It deals with both denotational meaning (where meaning comes from knowing the conditions of truth in situations), and operational meaning (where meaning is an instruction for performing cognitive action). Including a discussion of recent developments in logic, it will be invaluable to linguistics students wanting to apply logic to their studies, logic students wishing to learn how their subject can be applied to linguistics, and functional programmers interested in natural language processing as a new application area.