Using Higher-Order Logic Programming for Semantic Interpretation of Coordinate Constructs

Abstract

Many theories of semantic interpretation use lambda-term manipulation to compositionally compute the meaning of a sentence. These theories are usually implemented in a language such as Prolog that can simulate lambda-term operations with first-order unification. However, for some interesting cases, such as a Combinatory Categorial Grammar account of coordination constructs, this can only be done by obscuring the underlying linguistic theory with the ``tricks'' needed for implementation. This paper shows how the use of abstract syntax permitted by higher-order logic programming allows an elegant implementation of the semantics of Combinatory Categorial Grammar, including its handling of coordination constructs.