The UNL The UNL ProgramProgram
A program created by the United Nations University / Institute of Advanced Studies
Now carried out by the UNDL Foundationwww.undl.org
Distinctive featuresDistinctive featuresUNL is designed for multilingual informationUNL is designed for multilingual information services services, not , not for MT.for MT.
Distinctive characteristics:Distinctive characteristics:• OOpen technology. Patents held by UNpen technology. Patents held by UN• Internet based.Internet based.• UNL docs are re-usable. Draft first, refine later.UNL docs are re-usable. Draft first, refine later.• UNL docs are upgradable as better generators are UNL docs are upgradable as better generators are developed.developed.• UNL system is scalable to new languages.UNL system is scalable to new languages.
UNL PhilosophyUNL Philosophy
Internet
French People
Hindi PeopleSpanish People
Chinese PeopleFrench Chinese
Spanish
UNL System
Hindi
UNL SystemUNL System
DocumentDocument BaseBase
UNL UNL Document Document
BaseBase
French French GeneratoGenerato
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HindHindii GeneratoGenerato
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Spanish Spanish GeneratoGenerato
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Chinese Chinese GeneratoGenerato
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Other Other language language GeneratorGenerator
UNL ArchitectureUNL Architecture
Text in Text in naturalnatural
languagelanguage
AnalyzerAnalyzer
UNLUNL DictionaryDictionary
UNLUNLDocumentDocument
BaseBase
LanguageLanguageGeneratorGenerator
Generated
documents
UNL EditorUNL Editor
Language ServerLanguage Server
UNL as an interlinguaUNL as an interlingua (1/4)(1/4)
• UNL is a partially formalised, artificial language for UNL is a partially formalised, artificial language for expressing informational content in a language-expressing informational content in a language-independent wayindependent way..• Essential components of this language are:Essential components of this language are:
• Universal words (UWs)Universal words (UWs): They represent concepts valid : They represent concepts valid in all languages. in all languages. • AttributesAttributes : Modify the meaning of the UWs : Modify the meaning of the UWs• RelationsRelations: Express the semantic relation between two : Express the semantic relation between two UWs.UWs.
UNL as an interlinguaUNL as an interlingua (2/4)(2/4)
Universal WordsUniversal Words composed by:composed by:
1.1. Basic UWBasic UW: It is an English “headword” (for practical : It is an English “headword” (for practical reasons) (e.g.: snow)reasons) (e.g.: snow)
2.2. RestrictionsRestrictions: They perform a more accurate : They perform a more accurate semantic definition of the UW. {e.g.: cat (icl>animal) semantic definition of the UW. {e.g.: cat (icl>animal) or or snow(icl>thing) vs. snow(icl>occur)snow(icl>thing) vs. snow(icl>occur) } }
snownieve
snow
Schnee
neige
UNL as an interlinguaUNL as an interlingua (3/4)(3/4)
AttributesAttributes: : modifiers of the UW meaningsmodifiers of the UW meanings
• number number (singular or plural); (e.g. @pl)
• reference reference (definite or indefinite); (e.g. @def)
• time and aspecttime and aspect; ;
• epistemic and deontic modalitiesepistemic and deontic modalities;;
• pragmatic intentionpragmatic intentions; s;
• etc...etc...
UNL as an interlinguaUNL as an interlingua (4/4)(4/4)
Conceptual RelationsConceptual Relations• Semantic relations Semantic relations between UWsbetween UWs• 41 conceptual relations, grouped into 8 families41 conceptual relations, grouped into 8 families• Example: “the storm broke the windows”Example: “the storm broke the windows”
stormstorm (icl>action).@def
breakbreak (icl>do).@entry.@past
windowwindow (icl>thing).@def.@pl objobj
agtagt
How to write a document in How to write a document in UNL?UNL?
UNL EDITORUNL EDITOR
LanguagLanguage Rulese Rules
EnconverteEnconverterr
Language/UNLLanguage/UNLDictionaryDictionary
Texts in
UNL
CatChatGato
cat(icl>animal)
[S]agt(run(icl>do).@entry.@past, I)ppl(run(icl>do).@entry.@past, street.@def)tim(run(icl>do).@entry.@past, yesterday)[/S]
Yesterday I ran in the street.
Hier, Je courais dans la rue.
Ayer yo corría en la calle
UNL Organization UNL Organization (1/2)(1/2)
• Initially promoted by the United Initially promoted by the United Nations Nations University (UNU/IAS) (Tokyo)University (UNU/IAS) (Tokyo)• Fourteen languages involved.Fourteen languages involved.• In 2000 the UNU/IAS decided to In 2000 the UNU/IAS decided to create an create an independent organization independent organization to be in charge to be in charge of the UNL Program.of the UNL Program.• In 2001 the UNDL Foundation has In 2001 the UNDL Foundation has started started its activities (Geneva)its activities (Geneva)
UNL Organization UNL Organization (2/2)(2/2)UNDL UNDL
FoundationFoundation
UNL UNL CenterCenter
UNL SystemUNL System• SpecificationsSpecifications• UW DictionaryUW Dictionary• Knowledge BaseKnowledge Base• ArchitectureArchitecture
UNL SocietyUNL Society• IndividualsIndividuals• CorporationsCorporations• InstitutionsInstitutions• Free Free membership for membership for R&D activitiesR&D activities
Language Language CentersCenters• 12 at the 12 at the momentmoment
MaintenanceMaintenance PromotioPromotionn
Co-ordinationCo-ordination