Collaboration on reference to objects that are not mutually known

  • Authors:
  • Philip G. Edmonds

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  • Venue:
  • COLING '94 Proceedings of the 15th conference on Computational linguistics - Volume 2
  • Year:
  • 1994

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Abstract

In conversation, a person sometimes has to refer to an object that is not previously known to the other participant. We present a plan-based model of how agents collaborate on reference of this sort. In making a reference, an agent uses the most salient attributes of the referent. In understanding a reference, an agent determines his confidence in its adequacy as a means of identifying the referent. To collaborate, the agents use judgment, suggestion, and elaboration moves to refashion an inadequate referring expression.