Using Generalized Constraints and Protoforms to Deal with Adverbs

Computation with information described in natural language (NL) has intrinsic importance because much of human knowledge is described using these languages. Soft Computing approach to NL-Computation concerns with semantic imprecision of natural languages through the use of NL precisiation, generalized constraints and prototypical forms. NLs are basically systems for describing perceptions. NL precisiation consist on expressing the meaning of propositions in NL as generalized constraints. In this paper, adverbs and adjectives in NL propositions are considered as constraints. Thus, generalized constraints are proposed to specify the attribute values associated to nouns by means of adverbs and adjectives. A prototypical form (or protoform) is suggested to represent an abstracted summary, a symbolic expression of a noun phrase, involving adverbs, adjectives and nouns. This type of protoform could be used to represent the use of adverbs and adjectives to describe or specify nouns. Then, these cases are considered protoform equivalent.