Usage-based approaches typically draw on a relatively small set of cognitive processes, such as categorization, analogy, and chunking to explain language structure and function. The goal of this paper is to first review the extent to which the "cognitive commitment" of usage-based theory has had success in explaining empirical findings across domains, including language acquisition, processing,...

In this report, we give an overview how to use XML based techniques in order to derive language independent Markov Chain Usage Models [1] given any popular FDT (Formal Description Techniques), such as MSC (Message Sequence Charts, ITU-T standard Z.120) and UML/SD (Unified Modeling Language/Sequence Diagram, OMG Standard). In particular, we demonstrate and discuss the tool chain JUMBL (J Usage M...

tba Peter Fankhauser (Institut für Deutsche Sprache, Mannheim), Visual correlation for exploring paradigmatic language change Abstract: Paradigmatic language change occurs when paradigmatically related words with similar usage context rise or fall together. We introduce an approach to explore such paradigmatic change in diachronic corpora by visually correlating two factors: Frequency change an...

This article outlines an emergentist account whereby the limited end-state typical of adult second language learners results from dynamic cycles of language use, language change, language perception, and language learning in the interactions of members of language communities. In summary, the major processes are: 1. Usage leads to change : High frequency use of grammatical functors causes their...

We describe and implement a policy language. In our system, agents can distribute data along with usage policies in a decentralized architecture. Our language supports the specification of conditions and obligations, and also the possibility to refine policies. In our framework, the compliance with usage policies is not actively enforced. However, agents are accountable for their actions, and m...

Author identification, also called authorship attribution, is the task of determining the author of a piece of work. All humans have unique patterns of behavior, much like the uniqueness of biometric data. Therefore, certain characteristics pertaining to language, composition, and writing, such as particular syntactic and structural layout traits, patterns of vocabulary usage, unusual language ...

We describe a policy language and implement its associated proof checking system. In our system, agents can distribute data along with usage policies in a decentralized architecture. Our language supports the specification of conditions and obligations, and also the possibility to refine policies. In our framework, the compliance with usage policies is not actively enforced. However, agents are...

To see is to believe. A picture is often worth a thousand words in everyday communication settings. A graphical representation actually “talks” in such communication, integrated with some other representation systems like spoken language. Because of its power, however, a graphical representation can affect the way people grasp a target situation it describes. This paper presents an empirical in...