Preface

Part I: Introduction
1. Natural Language Processing
1.1 Natural Language Interfaces
1.2 The Linguistic Application of NLP
1.3 NLP as a Tool for Linguistic Research
1.4 Further Reading

2. The Challenge of Natural Language Processing
2.1 Knowledge of the Linguistic Structure
2.2 Ambiguity and Contextual Knowledge
2.3 The Process of Language Understanding
2.4 Psycholinguistics and NLP
2.5 Further Reading

Part II: The Fundamentals of Prolog Programming
3. Facts
3.1 Facts
3.2 Asking Simple Questions in Prolog
3.3 Compound Questions
3.4 Questions and Variables
3.5 Finding Alternative Answers: Backtracking
3.6 Using Variables in Facts
3.7 Further Reading

4. Rules and Complex Names
4.1 Rules
4.2 How Prolog Answers Questions Using Rules
4.3 Structured Objects

5. Lists and Recursive Structures
5.1 Lists
5.2 Recursive Rules

6. Developing Prolog Programs
6.1 The Meaning of Prolog Programs
6.2 Designing Programs
6.3 Laying Out Programs
6.4 Search Trees
6.5 Search Strategies
6.6 Tracing a Proof
6.7 Some Common Programming Errors

7. Built-In Predicates
7.1 Input and Output
7.2 fail
7.3 consult and reconsult
7.4 Modifying a Database
7.5 Defining Operators
7.6 The 'cut'
7.7 Program Listing

Part III: Natural Language Processing with Prolog
8. Sentence Recognition And Finite State Grammars
8.1 Sentence Frame Grammars
8.2 A Sentence Frame Grammar-based Recognisor
8.3 An Alternative Notation for Sentence Frame Grammars
8.4 An FSG-Based Recognisor
8.5 Extending The Range of Finite State Grammars
8.6 Further Reading
8.7 Program Listings

9. Recursive Transition Networks
9.1 Constituent Structure
9.2 Extending the Network Notation
9.3 An RTN-Based Recognisor
9.4 Implementing an RTN Recognisor in Prolog
9.5 Extending the RTN Notation
9.6 Further Reading
9.7 Program Listings

10. Phrase Structure Grammars
10.1 Phrase Structure Grammars
10.2 A Simple Phrase Structure Recognisor
10.3 Directly Representing Phrase Structure Grammars in Prolog
10.4 Efficiency
10.5 Difference Lists
10.6 The Grammar Rule Notation
10.7 Further Reading
10.8 Program Listings

11. Definite Clause Grammars
11.1 Grammar Symbols as Complex Terms
11.2 Procedure Calls
11.3 Further Reading
11.4 Program Listings

12. Alternative Parsing Strategies
12.1 A Top-Down Interpreter
12.2 Problems with Top-Down Parsing
12.3 A Bottom-Up Interpreter
12.4 A Left-Corner Interpreter
12.5 Deterministic Parsing
12.6 Chart Parsing
12.7 Further Reading
12.8 Program Listings

Solutions to Exercises
Glossary of Terms
Bibliography
Index