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I Emre Sahin and Varol Ak I Emre Sahin and Varol Ak man man 1 2003.06.26 2003.06.26 In Search of Intended In Search of Intended Meaning Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering Department of Computer Engineering 06800, Ankara, Turkey 06800, Ankara, Turkey
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I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

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Page 1: I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

I Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanI Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 112003.06.262003.06.26

In Search of Intended In Search of Intended MeaningMeaning

I. Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanI. Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanBilkent UniversityBilkent University

Department of Computer EngineeringDepartment of Computer Engineering06800, Ankara, Turkey06800, Ankara, Turkey

Page 2: I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

2003.06.262003.06.26 I Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanI Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 22

ContentsContents

• The Formula and “Intention Space”The Formula and “Intention Space”

• Intended Meaning in WritingIntended Meaning in Writing

• Intended Meaning in ReadingIntended Meaning in Reading

• Remarks on some problemsRemarks on some problems

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2003.06.262003.06.26 I Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanI Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 33

The formulaThe formula

• S: Text (Sentence, S: Text (Sentence, Symbol)Symbol)

• c: Circumstance c: Circumstance (Context)(Context)

• R: Language R: Language ConventionsConventions

• P: Intended P: Intended Meaning (Content) Meaning (Content)

( , )RC S c P

By Jon Barwise, On Circumstantial Relation Between Meaning and Content. 1985-1986

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2003.06.262003.06.26 I Emre Sahin and Varol AkmanI Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 44

Intention SpaceIntention Space• Literary Works: No Single Literary Works: No Single

Intended MeaningIntended Meaning

• Richness: Many Richness: Many intentions from textintentions from text

• Comprehension: Hunting Comprehension: Hunting Intentions of AuthorIntentions of Author

• Extension to the equationExtension to the equation

1 2( , ) { , ,..., ,...}R nC S c p p p

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Intentio AuctorisIntentio Auctoris

• Author tries to share intended Author tries to share intended meaning P.meaning P.

• Fiction: create circumstance, Fiction: create circumstance, play with conventions, be rich... play with conventions, be rich... (many intended meanings)(many intended meanings)

• Non-Fiction: assume Non-Fiction: assume circumstance, be clear... (single circumstance, be clear... (single intended meaning)intended meaning)

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WritingWriting

• Author has a dream:Author has a dream:<<near_to, John, tree, 1>><<near_to, John, tree, 1>><<working, John, rake, 1>><<working, John, rake, 1>><<raking, John, leaves, 1>><<raking, John, leaves, 1>>

““John is working with his John is working with his rake.”rake.”

““John has a rake in his John has a rake in his hand.”hand.”

““Leaves are admitting to Leaves are admitting to John’s orders given John’s orders given with the rake in his with the rake in his hand.”hand.”

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Writing (cont.)Writing (cont.)

• <<raking, John, leaves, 1>><<raking, John, leaves, 1>>• <<under, John, tree, 1>><<under, John, tree, 1>>• <<working, John, rake, 1>><<working, John, rake, 1>>

• ......

• ““John is under the tree.”John is under the tree.”

• ““He is working.”He is working.”

• ““He is raking leaves He is raking leaves iin the n the ggardenarden.”.”

Page 8: I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

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““Efficiency” of intentionEfficiency” of intention

• There are (infinitely?) many ways to There are (infinitely?) many ways to express some intention. express some intention.

• Literary value = How expressed?Literary value = How expressed?

• R : Use of language?R : Use of language?

• c : Sound circumstance?c : Sound circumstance?

• S : Well defined symbol?S : Well defined symbol?

• P : Definite / Indefinite intended P : Definite / Indefinite intended meaning?meaning?

• Build R, c, S for PBuild R, c, S for P

Page 9: I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

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Evolution (Intentionis Evolution (Intentionis Auctoris)Auctoris)• Top Intention: Moral of the Top Intention: Moral of the

story, thesis to be supportedstory, thesis to be supported

• Progressively look for intentions Progressively look for intentions to support top-level intentionto support top-level intention

OROR

• Start somewhereStart somewhere

• Explore the intention spaceExplore the intention space

• Write as you learn yourselfWrite as you learn yourself

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Intentio LectorisIntentio Lectoris

• For reader: A book For reader: A book not known = infinite not known = infinite intention spaceintention space

• World in the book: World in the book: Progressively add Progressively add elementselements

• Sequentiality: There Sequentiality: There is always some is always some order in reading.order in reading.

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ComprehensionComprehension

• Are language conventions Are language conventions identical with mine? (R)identical with mine? (R)

• How is the world in the book? (c)How is the world in the book? (c)

• What does the sentence mean? What does the sentence mean? (S)(S)

• What’s the intention of author? What’s the intention of author? (P)(P)

• Get P from R, c, S Get P from R, c, S

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Reading IReading I

““John is under the John is under the tree.”tree.”

• thethe tree: I must tree: I must know this one. (c)know this one. (c)

• <<under, John, <<under, John, tree, 1>>tree, 1>>

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Reading IIReading II

• ““He is working.” He is working.”

• thethe tree: c tree: c

• Working: Perhaps Working: Perhaps cutting the tree. cutting the tree.

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Reading IIIReading III

• ““He is raking He is raking leaves leaves iin the n the gardengarden.”.”

• <<raking, John, <<raking, John, leaves, 1>>leaves, 1>>

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Reader’s Intention SpaceReader’s Intention Space

1.1. InfiniteInfinite

2.2. TreeTree• Apple tree, maple, plum, ...Apple tree, maple, plum, ...• Tree trunk, tree branch, tree leaf, ...Tree trunk, tree branch, tree leaf, ...• Graph, genealogy, ...Graph, genealogy, ...• ......

3.3. <<under, John, tree, 1>><<under, John, tree, 1>>• <<sleeping, John, 1>>, <<reading, <<sleeping, John, 1>>, <<reading,

John, 1>>, ...John, 1>>, ...

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InterpretationInterpretation

““John is under the John is under the treetree. He is working. . He is working. He is raking leaves He is raking leaves iin the gn the gardenarden..””

• ““Common sense” Common sense” interpretation interpretation

• ““Covert Action” Covert Action” interpretationinterpretation

• Religious Religious interpretationinterpretation

• ““Kabbalist” Kabbalist” interpretationinterpretation

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Reader’s Intention SpaceReader’s Intention Space

• Infinite in terms of Infinite in terms of allusions. allusions. – Peirce, infinite semiosisPeirce, infinite semiosis

• Finite in terms of Finite in terms of structure.structure.– ““TreeTree”” does not does not both both

mean mean ““flowerflower” and ” and “moon.” “moon.”

(Or is this wrong?)(Or is this wrong?)

• Interpretation and Interpretation and “overinterpretation”“overinterpretation”– Infinite semiosis does Infinite semiosis does

not mean that a text not mean that a text can mean can mean anythinganything..

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Intentio OperisIntentio Operis

• OpenOpen– Large intention Large intention

space, “open” to space, “open” to interpret.interpret.

– Richness Richness – No single meaningNo single meaning– Keep intention Keep intention

space largespace large– UlyssesUlysses

• ClosedClosed– Definite number of Definite number of

intentionsintentions– Not much literary Not much literary

valuevalue– Definite meaningDefinite meaning– Keep intention Keep intention

space smallspace small– SupermanSuperman

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Ambiguity IAmbiguity I

• Large intention space. Large intention space. – Due to nonstandard R (Finnegans Wake)Due to nonstandard R (Finnegans Wake)– Due to c, nonstandard environmentDue to c, nonstandard environment– Due to S, ambiguous syntax etc. Due to S, ambiguous syntax etc.

• Filtering appropriate intentions. Filtering appropriate intentions.

• Usual in open texts. Usual in open texts.

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Ambiguity IIAmbiguity II

• Reading text, sequentiallyReading text, sequentially• Infinite > P1 > P2Infinite > P1 > P2• Intention subspace: P2 to P1Intention subspace: P2 to P1• Intention superspace: P1 to P2Intention superspace: P1 to P2• P2 incompatible with P1: P2 incompatible with P1:

AmbiguousAmbiguous• ““There is an apple tree in the There is an apple tree in the

garden. There are oranges hanging garden. There are oranges hanging from the tree.”from the tree.”

• c1 : apple tree, c2 : orange tree c1 : apple tree, c2 : orange tree

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Problems – Separating c and Problems – Separating c and RR• Planet Planet

– In an Science Fiction work, In an Science Fiction work, planetplanet in Rin R

– In a children’s storybook, In a children’s storybook, planetplanet in in cc

Describe every

element in c

Assume every

element in R

R c

planet in an SF

work

planet in a

children’s book

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Problems – Separating c and Problems – Separating c and RR• What’s a What’s a good good criterion for criterion for

positioning the separation positioning the separation point?point?

• What must an author assume What must an author assume writing a piece of text?writing a piece of text?

• Model ReaderModel Reader

• Work DependentWork Dependent

• DebateDebate

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Problems – Relation S and RProblems – Relation S and R

• In which ways a sign is in R and is an S?In which ways a sign is in R and is an S?

• Proposal: Allusion / Structure analogyProposal: Allusion / Structure analogy– There are infinite replacements of a word There are infinite replacements of a word

(that carries meaning) in a given position.(that carries meaning) in a given position.– Yet all replacements must conform with Yet all replacements must conform with

language. language. • PhonologicallyPhonologically

• SyntacticallySyntactically

• SemanticallySemantically

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Problems – Intention SetsProblems – Intention Sets

• ““This sentence is true.”This sentence is true.”– Intention space contains some Intention space contains some

intention about itself. intention about itself. – Non well-founded setsNon well-founded sets

• ““This sentence is false.”This sentence is false.”– ParadoxParadox

• ““blah, blah, blah... This blah, blah, blah... This announcement will not be announcement will not be repeated.”repeated.”

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Problems - DiscardingProblems - Discarding

• Which intentions must be Which intentions must be discarded in favor of the other?discarded in favor of the other?

• Criteria?Criteria?

• Understanding : Discarding Understanding : Discarding irrelevant intentions from irrelevant intentions from intention spaceintention space

• Relevance?Relevance?

• Formalizing?Formalizing?

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Some more formulasSome more formulas

• Perfect Translation:Perfect Translation:

• Not-so-perfect Not-so-perfect TranslationTranslation

• Minimize Minimize

• How?How?

1 1 2 2( , ) ( , )R RC S c P C S c

1

2

1 1

2 2

1 2

( , )

( , )

R

R

C S c P

C S c P

P P P

P

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ConclusionConclusion

• Step to formalize contextStep to formalize context

• Application of Situation SemanticsApplication of Situation Semantics

• ““Formal Criticism”Formal Criticism”

• HeritageHeritage– Religion, Hermeneutics Religion, Hermeneutics – Literature, CriticismLiterature, Criticism– Logic, “Empirical Logic”Logic, “Empirical Logic”– Linguistics, SemanticsLinguistics, Semantics

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SummarySummary

• The Formula and “Intention The Formula and “Intention Space”Space”

• Intended Meaning in WritingIntended Meaning in Writing

• Intended Meaning in ReadingIntended Meaning in Reading

• Remarks on some problemsRemarks on some problems

Page 29: I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering.

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Thank You!Thank You!

Please share your Please share your comments and comments and

questions.questions.