Parsing Mixed Constructions in a Type Feature Structure Grammar

摘要

Because of the mixed properties of nominal and verbal properties, Korean gerundive phrases (GPs) posits intriguing issues to both theoretical as well as computational analyses. Various theoretical approaches have been proposed to solve this puzzle, but they all have ended up abandoning or modifying fundamental theory-neutral principles such as endocentricity, lexicalism, and null licensing with the supposition of otherwise unmotivated abstract elements or structures (cf. Pullum 1991, Malouf 1998). This paper shows that it is possible to analyze and efficiently parse the mixed properties of Korean GPs in a way that maintains the aforementioned desiderata while avoiding abstract entities. This has been achieved through Korean Phrase Structure Grammar, an extension of HPSG that models human languages as systems of constraints on typed feature structures. The feasibility of such an analysis is tested by implementing it into the LKB (Linguistics Knowledge Building) System (cf. Copes-take 2002).