Attention, intentions, and the structure of discourse
Computational Linguistics
Centering: a framework for modeling the local coherence of discourse
Computational Linguistics
Relevant Answers to WH-Questions
Journal of Logic, Language and Information
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Computational approaches to reference resolution, like Centering Theory, are best at resolving referring expressions which denote familiar referents. We demonstrate how, by taking a proof-theoretic approach to reference resolution within a Centering-type framework, we are able to make sense of referring expressions for unfamiliar referents. These include, in addition to bridging descriptions, definite descriptions like "the first man" and "the first snowdrops of Spring". We claim that the first of these denotes a unique subset of a plural discourse antecedent. While the second has no discourse antecedent, we similarly treat it as denoting a unique subset of a familiar referent.