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Rebecca Joyce Green

The Expression of Syntagmatic Relationships in Frame-Based Indexing
Rebecca Joyce Green
Advisor: Marilyn Domas White

Abstract:
According to many language models, lower-level units combine to form higher-level composite structures. Within such a model, we distinguish between paradigmatic relationships (e.g., hyponymy, antonymy, partonymy), which pertain to relationships between units/constructs in isolation, and syntagmatic relationships, which pertain to relationships between language units/constructs in combination. Vocabulary control should address both paradigmatic and syntagmatic relationships. With few exceptions, however, index languages have not treated syntagmatic relationships systematically.

After reviewing syntagmatic relator systems used in information retrieval (EJC and WRU role indicator systems, relational indexing, SYNTOL, and PRECIS), as well as linguistics and artificial intelligence (representing the work of Fillmore, Simmons, Wilks, Grimes, Gruber, and Schank), the dissertation proposes that the frame, a gestalt structure grounded in conventional situations, be used as the basic syntagmatic indexing unit. Recent research regarding metonymy, prototype and basic-level effects, metaphor, and mental spaces, however, suggests that propositional models operate within restricted bounds; frames may be subject to similar limitations.

The study reported here (1) developed a prototype frame-based indexing language for the New Testament, (2) used this language to index significant portions of the four gospels, and (3) using the case study method, analyzed the indexing to determine whether frame-based indexing is effective and efficient in its expression of syntagmatic relationships.

Findings include: (1) frame-based index language development is feasible; (2) frame-based indexing permits retrieval based on syntagmatic structures, thus supporting analogically-based retrieval (particularly important for the humanities); (3) through specification of syntagmatic relationships within frames, frame-based indexing facilitates increased precision; (4) frame-based indexing constitutes a stand-alone semantic analysis of a text; (5) additional costs are associated with frame-based indexing and searching (automation possibilities are explored); (6) additional mechanisms are required for frame-based index systems to give fully adequate treatment to quantification, profiling, metonymic references, paradigmatic relationships, and mental spaces; (7) frames are a composite of syntagmatic structure and semantic scope, and (8) paradigmatic relationships between syntagmatic structures are highly important; future frame-based index languages should incorporate this insight by building around image schemata (abstract, basic syntagmatic structures).