Title: Towards computer-human interaction in natural language

Authors: M. Koit, O. Gerassimenko, R. Kasterpalu, A. Raabis, K. Strandson

Addresses: Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia. ' Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia. ' Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia. ' Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia. ' Institute of Estonian and General Linguistics, University of Tartu, J. Liivi 2, Tartu, 50409, Estonia

Abstract: Estonian human-human calls (directory inquiries) are analysed with the further aim to develop a computer-human dialogue system that interacts with a user in natural language. The analysis is based on the Estonian Dialogue Corpus. Linguistic features of clients| requests and agents| grants are studied. A client|s initial request sets up a goal which will be achieved in collaboration with the agent. Information is given briefly by agents, using short sentences or phrases. Information-sharing sub-dialogues are initiated by both participants if either a request or a grant needs to be adjusted. A formal grammar of information dialogue is introduced in this paper. The results of the study will be implemented in two dialogue systems which are under development.

Keywords: human-computer interaction; HCI; natural language; dialogue corpus; dialogue acts; linguistic features; dialogue grammar; Estonia; directory enquiries; computer-human dialogue; formal grammar.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.2009.024082

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 2009 Vol.34 No.4, pp.291 - 297

Published online: 25 Mar 2009 *

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