Computational Linguistics, Term Paper Example

The scientific study of the human language and its structure is what is referred to as linguistics. Linguistics also comprises the study and exploration of syntax, phonetics and grammar. Particular topics discussed in linguistics involve dialectology, sociolinguistics, computational linguistics, psycholinguistics, structural linguistics and comparative linguistics. In this particular discussion, the main topic of focus regarding to use of linguistics is the subject on computational linguistics. This is an interdisciplinary topic that deals with modeling of natural human language to translate to rule-base or statistical semantic from a computational perception (Church & Mercer, 1993).

Computational linguistics mandates the use of artificial intelligence. The use of computational linguistics was invented in the 1950s period United States with the intention for individuals to use computers. Computer technology has increased the rate of text and language processing making it easier for people to communicate. Presently, human beings are able to translate texts written if different or foreign languages at a faster pace than ever before through using automated computer systems. Since computers are known to process arithmetic calculations at a much faster and accurate pace as compared to humans, extensive research was put into the innovation of technical computer systems that would be able process a remarkable capacity language or texts. A perfect example is the Google translator.

Initially, the research conducted on mechanical processing of language failed to offer and deliver accurate translations. This instigated the innovation and development of programmed processes to comprehend human languages. Computational linguistics revolutionized the era developing and designing software programs and algorithms that could logically process the data and information of human language. The invention of computational linguistics was facilitated by the introduction of artificial intelligence study in the period of 1960s. This field mainly dealt with the study of how of computational entities and agents communicated with each other at the level comprehendible by the humans natural language (Association for Computational Linguistics, 1984).

Notably, in order to be able to translate a foreign language into an understandable one for an individual it is important observed that one had to understand the aspects of both languages. The elements of the human language entail the grammar, which comprises of both the syntax (the grammar of the sentence structure) and the morphology (the grammar of word forms). One has to first understand the semantics and the vocabulary (or ‘lexicon’) in order to comprehend the syntax of language. Additionally, one also has to extensively understand the pragmatics of language use. Therefore, one can note that the effort made by language researchers to make translations between foreign languages stimulated the evolution of a unique discipline dedicated towards the understanding of how to language can be symbolized and processed through using computers.

Conventionally, computational linguistics was generally implemented by computer scientists who had focused on studying the utilization of computers to the process natural human language. Deprived of the invention of computer linguistics, one would not be able to process words on a computer system. Computational linguists has simplified how experts work, for example, the mathematicians, cognitive scientists, philosophers, psycholinguists, cognitive psychologists, neuroscientists, anthropologists, computer scientists among others experts in artificial intelligence. The topic of computational linguists has expansively promoted communication between different regions and ethnic groups. The training offered through computational linguistics has promoted the language expertise and created job opportunities for many people around the world, for example, computer scientists and application developers.

The topic of computational linguistics is subdivided into two components, that is, the applied and theoretical modules. The theoretical computational linguistics section addresses the subjects regarding cognitive science and theoretical linguistics. While the applied computational linguistics segment puts emphasis on the real-world consequences resulting from the modeling and use of the human natural language. Currently, the study conducted within the range of computational linguistics is often prepared and done within a computational linguistics laboratory, a computer science division, a computational linguistics department, or at any other advanced linguistics department (LI, 2014). Various studies and research designs currently being innovated in the field of computational linguistics intend to build or create computer based software applications that would process text or speeches. The mentioned inventions would go long way towards increasing and improving the level of human computer interaction.

The only drawbacks depicted by the invention of word processing programs is that the language meant for human-machine communication will only be viable in cases where there are adaptive resources. The conversation between agents can be only complete if the developed language utilizes an evidence based databases that manages the language input and output. The theoretical approaches have facilitated the study of language structure which promoted the ability for speech synthesis and speech recognition (Jurafsky & James, 2000).

Speech generation using computers has introduced a different method of understanding and comprehending how machine language research constantly produces new ways of inventing or designing the neural networks. The evolution of language linguistic through the use of technical computerized applications assists people by giving them the insight on how to adapt and respond to artificially intelligent systems. As a result, one can conclude that machines or robots are capable of thinking, communicating and processing language.

References

Association for Computational Linguistics. (1984). Computational linguistics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press Journals.

Church, K. W., & Mercer, R. L. (1993). Introduction to the special issue on computational linguistics using large corpora. Computational linguistics, 19(1), 1-24.

Jurafsky, D., & James, H. (2000). Speech and language processing an introduction to natural language processing, computational linguistics, and speech.

LI, W. (2014). Applied linguistics. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10768999.