We sketch the outlines of a dialogue model using discourse obligations in a formal framework of information states. We propose a set of practical inference rules which incrementally update information states and assign intentional structures to sequences of dialogue moves. In this way we show that an obligation-driven approach can account for a wide range of phenomena which are assumed to be crucial for modelling any kind of dialogue. In particular, our analysis will focus on providing a treatment of questions and assertions in dialogue, thus covering some of the basic reasoning processes involved in information-oriented interaction.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.