Opposition theory and computational semiotics

Abstract

Abstract. Opposition theory suggests that binary oppositions (e.g., high vs. low) underlie basic cognitive and linguistic processes. However, opposition theory has never been implemented in a computational cognitive-semiotics model. In this paper, we present a simple model of metaphor identifi cation that relies on opposition theory. An algorithm instantiating the model has been tested on a data set of 100 phrases comprising adjectivenoun pairs in which approximately a half represent metaphorical language-use (e.g., dark thoughts) and the rest literal language-use (e.g., dark hair). Th e algorithm achieved 89% accuracy in metaphor identifi cation and illustrates the relevance of opposition theory for modelling metaphor processing.

The logic of semiotics applied to mathematical and social interaction in operational research consulting practice: Towards a foundational view

“…Computer science : OR can draw on the work on computer–human interaction and user interfaces, and more widely computational semiotics, an interdisciplinary field that draws on computer science, semiotics and mathematics (see, for instance, Andersen, 1991; Assaf et al, 2015; Stamper, 2001).…”

Computational opposition analysis using word embeddings: A method for strategising resonant informal argument

“…In professional contexts, the semiotic tool most often employed to bring formality to questions of persuasion is opposition analysis (OA), whose history back to Saussure [7] is précised with a focus on computational semiotics in [4]. In establishing a visual format for OA, Greimas' work on the semiotic square has been particularly influential [5,13,14].…”

“…The centrality of OA to the theoretical position taken in 1.1, and the widespread availability of digital texts containing informal argumentation, makes a computational approach to OA an appealing avenue for investigation. While semiotics has taken an interest in computation [1,8,9,20,25], apart from [4], little work has been done in computational treatment of opposition analysis. To our knowledge no automated means of generating OA diagrams has been published.…”

“…A simple way to identify these is to take the difference in term frequency (expressed as a fraction of total terms) between the two proxies. 4 So, if the frequency of gun in the Pro proxy is 0.017 and in the Con proxy it is 0.014, then the difference of 0.003 will probably not mark this signifier as one of interest. But if the frequency of massacre in the Pro proxy is 0.017 and in the Con proxy it is 0.003, then the difference of 0.014 may indicate a noteworthy signifier and something that resonates and divides.…”

“…Lemmatisation is the process of replacing each word with its root form or "lemma" with attention paid to its grammatical role (part of speech). Thus "guns" would become "gun" and "controlled" would become "control" 4. Term frequency is used in this paper for clarity of exposition.…”