This thesis is two fold. The first part deals with an existence proof of a formal algorithm that takes a narrative discourse and returns its semantic representation in the Event Calculus (EC from now on) [19]. This algorithm uses Discourse Representation Theory, and takes on the form of a translation from Discourse Representation Structures to Scenarios and Integrity Constraints in EC. The seco...

According to the functional approach to language evolution (inspired by cognitive linguistics and construction grammar), grammar arises to deal with issues in communication among autonomous agents, particularly maximisation of communicative success and expressive power and minimisation of cognitive effort. Experiments in the emergence of grammar should hence start from a simulation of communica...

english passive has always been regarded as a challenge by farsi-speaking efl learners. despite the presence of many linguistic and pedagogical approaches in studying and teaching english passive, there still appears to be a pedagogical gap facing farsi-speaking efl learners dealing with this construction. taking up the cognitive-construction grammar perspective, the present article aims to inv...

Sign languages (SL) require a fundamental rethinking of many basic assumptions about human language processing because instead of using linear speech, sign languages coarticulate facial expressions, shoulder and hand movements, eye gaze and usage of a three-dimensional space. SL researchers have therefore advocated SL-specific approaches that do not start from the biases of models that were ori...

Construction Grammar has reached a stage of maturity where many researchers are looking for an explicit formal grounding of their work. Recently, there have been exciting developments to cater for this demand, most notably in Sign-Based Construction Grammar (SBCG) and Fluid Construction Grammar (FCG). Unfortunately, like playing a music instrument, the formalisms used by SBCG and FCG take time ...

Fluid Construction Grammar (FCG) is an open-source computational grammar formalism that is becoming increasingly popular for studying the history and evolution of language. This demonstration shows how FCG can be used to operationalise the cultural processes and cognitive mechanisms that underly language evolution and change.

This article reviews the impact of modern theoretical views on our understanding of the nature and purpose of the grammar of Pāṇini (ca. 350 BCE), and argues that new possibilities for progress open up for our understanding of this ancient grammar by confronting it not with the presuppositions of generative grammar as has been done – with undeniable but limited theoretical profit -in the last f...