S trin g s im ilarity m e tric s are im p o rtan t to o ls in co m p u ta tio n a l lin g u is tic s , ex ten siv e ly u sed e.g . fo r co m p arin g w o rd s in a v a rie ty o f p ro b lem dom ains. T h is p ap e r ex am in es th e som etim es m ad e a ssu m p tio n th a t th e p e rfo rm an ce o f such w ord co m p ariso n m e th o d s w ou ld b en efit from th e use o f lin g u is tic , viz....