Polyset: modelo linguístico-computacional para a estruturação de redes de polissemia de nominais

This research aims at representing noun polysemy so that it can be useful to computational systems; more specifically, the subject of this work is the inclusion of specification of polysemy relations in wordnet bases, particularly in WordNet.Br (DIASDA-SILVA, 1996, 1998, 2003). The methodology has been based on Dias-da-Silva (1996, 1998, 2003, 2006), comprehending three mutually complementary domains: linguistic, computational-linguistic, and computational ones. The computational-linguistic domain has both provided the subject for this research and articulated the relationship between the linguistic domain and the computational domain. From the investigations carried out in the computational-linguistic scene, we have highlighted the relevance of the introduction of distinct levels of generality among meanings in a database, so as to reduce the amount of lexical processing to be carried out by the system. At the same time, that multiple representation provides the necessary information for a system that needs a higher degree of meaning detailing. This kind of task is still a challenge to wordnets. From the linguistic scene, we have highlighted that Cognitive Lexical Semantics has shown to be the most suitable theory for the purposes of this thesis. Regarding the phenomenon of the multiple meaning from the cognitive perspective has allowed for describing meanings as a complex entity, structured in terms of nets. The nets of synchronic polysemy, in their free, multidimensional configuration, as Blank (2003) and Geeraerts (2006) have proposed, have shown to be the most suitable descriptive strategy for the representation of the meaning flexibility for the purposes of this thesis. Answering to the applied phase of both the linguistic and computationallinguistic domains, we have proposed a representation model called polyset. Polysets are constructs structured in terms of polysemy nets, allowing for representing different levels of generality among meanings, different degrees of salience, and different types of polysemy relationships. Following the methodology pointed out by Ganguemi (2004), in order to consider the computational domain, we have proposed a strategy for the codification of polysets in OWL with the help of the Protégé-OWL ontology editor. The polyset model represents an attempt at contributing towards the representation of noun polysemy in the wordnet paradigm, especially WN.Br.