A-rule
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− | ''' | + | '''A-rule''' (affixation rule) is a specific type of [[transformation rule]] used for generating affixes (prefixes, suffixes, infixes) in the UNLarium framework. |
+ | == When to use A-rules == | ||
+ | A-rules are used for prefixation, suffixation and infixation, i.e., for adding morphemes to a given base form. They are used for generating '''inflections''' (such as "book">"books", "love">"loved") or '''derivations''' (such as "dress">"undress", "write">"writer"). | ||
− | == | + | == When not to use A-rules == |
− | + | A-rules are not used for '''composition''' (i.e., to form new words by combining or putting together old words), as in "give">"give in", "go">"have gone" or "man">"fireman"). This should be treated by [[C-rule]]s. | |
− | + | == Types of A-rules == | |
− | + | There are two types of A-rules: | |
− | + | *'''simple A-rules''' involve a single action (such as prefixation, suffixation, infixation and replacement); and | |
− | + | *'''complex A-rules''' involve more than one action (such as circumfixation). | |
− | + | ||
− | == Types of | + | |
− | There are two types of | + | |
− | *'''simple | + | |
− | *'''complex | + | |
− | == Simple | + | == Simple A-rules == |
− | There are | + | There are four types of simple A-rules: |
− | *'''prefixation''', for adding | + | *'''prefixation''', for adding morphemes at the beginning of a base form. |
− | *'''suffixation''', for adding | + | *'''suffixation''', for adding morphemes at the end of a base form |
− | *'''infixation''', for adding | + | *'''infixation''', for adding morphemes to the middle of the base form |
+ | *'''replacement''', for changing the base form | ||
=== Syntax === | === Syntax === | ||
− | The syntax for simple | + | The syntax for simple A-rules is the following: |
<br> | <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
'''prefixation''' | '''prefixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED; |
'''suffixation''' | '''suffixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := DELETED > "ADDED"; |
'''infixation''' | '''infixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := [REFERENCE] > "ADDED"; |
+ | CONDITION := "ADDED" < [REFERENCE]; | ||
+ | '''replacement''' | ||
+ | CONDITION := DELETED : "ADDED"; | ||
+ | '''duplication''' | ||
+ | CONDITION := [REFERENCE]+; | ||
Where: | Where: | ||
− | *CONDITION = tag (such as | + | *CONDITION = tag (such as "PLR", "FEM", etc) or list of tags ("FEM&PLR") that indicates when the rule should be applied |
− | *ADDED = the string to be added (between quotes); | + | *ADDED (between quotes) = the string to be added ; |
− | *DELETED = the string | + | *REFERENCE (between square brackets) = the reference string (between quotes) or the position (without quotes) of the string to be added; |
+ | *DELETED = the string (between quotes) or the number of characters (without quotes) to be deleted. | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
Line 42: | Line 46: | ||
! AFTER | ! AFTER | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width= | + | |width=100| X:="y"<"z"; |
− | |width=300| if X replace the string | + | |width=300| if X replace the string "z" by the string "y" in the beginning of the string |
|width=50| '''z'''abc | |width=50| '''z'''abc | ||
|width=50| '''y'''abc | |width=50| '''y'''abc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="y"<1; |
− | | if X replace the first character of the string by | + | | if X replace the first character of the string by "y" |
| '''z'''abc | | '''z'''abc | ||
| '''y'''abc | | '''y'''abc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="y"<0; |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" to the beginning of the string |
| zabc | | zabc | ||
| '''y'''zabc | | '''y'''zabc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="y"<;<ref name="not">This feature is not supported by the UNL<sup>dev</sup>.</ref> |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" to the beginning of the string (idem previous) |
| zabc | | zabc | ||
| '''y'''zabc | | '''y'''zabc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="y"<<0;<ref name="not"/> |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" and a blank space to the beginning of the string |
| zabc | | zabc | ||
| '''y''' zabc | | '''y''' zabc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="y"<<;<ref name="not"/> |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" and a blank space to the beginning of the string (idem previous) |
| zabc | | zabc | ||
| '''y''' zabc | | '''y''' zabc | ||
Line 80: | Line 84: | ||
! AFTER | ! AFTER | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width= | + | |width=100| X:="z">"y"; |
− | |width=300| if X replace the string | + | |width=300| if X replace the string "z" by the string "y" in the end of the string |
|width=50| abc'''z''' | |width=50| abc'''z''' | ||
|width=50| abc'''y''' | |width=50| abc'''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=1> | + | | X:=1>"y"; |
− | | if X replace the last character of the string by | + | | if X replace the last character of the string by "y" |
| abc'''z''' | | abc'''z''' | ||
| abc'''y''' | | abc'''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=0> | + | | X:=0>"y"; |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" to the end of the string |
| abcz | | abcz | ||
| abcz'''y''' | | abcz'''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=> | + | | X:=>"y";<ref name="not"/> |
− | | if X add the string | + | | if X add the string "y" to the end of the string (idem previous) |
| abcz | | abcz | ||
| abcz'''y''' | | abcz'''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=0>> | + | | X:=0>>"y";<ref name="not"/> |
− | | if X add a blank space and the string | + | | if X add a blank space and the string "y" to the end of the string |
| abcz | | abcz | ||
| abcz '''y''' | | abcz '''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=>> | + | | X:=>>"y";<ref name="not"/> |
− | | if X add a blank space and the string | + | | if X add a blank space and the string "y" to the end of the string (idem previous) |
| abcz | | abcz | ||
| abcz '''y''' | | abcz '''y''' | ||
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! AFTER | ! AFTER | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width=50| X:= | + | |width=100| X:=[2]>"y"; |
− | |width=300| if X replace the whole by | + | |width=300| if X add "y" to the right of the second character |
+ | |width=50| abc | ||
+ | |width=50| ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:="y"<[3]; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the left of the third character | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:=["b"]>"y"; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the right of "b"; | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:="y"<["c"]; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the left of "c" | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:="y"<[3="c"]; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the left of "c", if "c" is the third character | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:=[2,="b"]>"y"; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the right of "b", if "b" is the second character; | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:=[-2]>"y"; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the right of the second character from the right | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:="y"<[-2]; | ||
+ | | if X add "y" to the left of the second character from the right | ||
+ | | abc | ||
+ | | a'''y'''bc | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | {|border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" | ||
+ | |+Replacement | ||
+ | ! RULE | ||
+ | ! BEHAVIOR | ||
+ | ! BEFORE | ||
+ | ! AFTER | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |width=100| X:="y"; | ||
+ | |width=300| if X replace the whole by "y" | ||
|width=50| X | |width=50| X | ||
|width=50| '''y''' | |width=50| '''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="z":"y"; |
− | | if X replace the string | + | | if X replace the string "z" by "y" |
| a'''z'''bc | | a'''z'''bc | ||
| a'''y'''bc | | a'''y'''bc | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:=[2 | + | | X:=[2-3]:"y"; |
− | | if X replace the second to the third character by | + | | if X replace the second to the third character by "y" |
| a'''bc'''z | | a'''bc'''z | ||
| a'''y'''z | | a'''y'''z | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | <br> | ||
+ | {|border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" | ||
+ | |+Duplication | ||
+ | ! RULE | ||
+ | ! BEHAVIOR | ||
+ | ! BEFORE | ||
+ | ! AFTER | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | |width=100| X:=[2]+; |
− | | | + | |width=300| if X duplicate the second character |
− | | X | + | |width=50| abc |
− | | | + | |width=50| ab'''b'''c |
+ | |- | ||
+ | |width=100| X:=[-2]+; | ||
+ | |width=300| if X duplicate the second last character | ||
+ | |width=50| abc | ||
+ | |width=50| ab'''b'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |width=100| X:=[2="b"]+; | ||
+ | |width=300| if X duplicate the second character, if it is "b" | ||
+ | |width=50| abc | ||
+ | |width=50| ab'''b'''c | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | |||
=== Observations === | === Observations === | ||
;Rules will only be applied if all conditions are true: | ;Rules will only be applied if all conditions are true: | ||
− | :X:= | + | :X:="y"<"z"; ( "zabc" changes to "yabc", but "abc" remains "abc" since there is no "z" to be replaced) |
− | ; | + | ;String fields are necessarily continuous: |
− | :PLR:=0> | + | :X:="aaa"<"xyz"; ( "xyzbbb" changes to "aaabbb", but "bxbybz" remains "bxbybz" since there is no continuous string "xyz" to be replaced) |
− | ; | + | ;Prefixation, infixation and suffixation rules apply only once (i.e, rules are not exhaustive) |
− | :X:= | + | :PLR:=0>"s"; ("X" becomes "Xs", and not "Xssssss...") |
+ | ;Replacement rules apply as long as the conditions are true: | ||
+ | :X:="a":"b"; ( "aaa" becomes "bbb" and not "abb") | ||
;In prefixation and suffixation rules, the part to be deleted may be represented by the number of characters (without quotes): | ;In prefixation and suffixation rules, the part to be deleted may be represented by the number of characters (without quotes): | ||
− | {|cellpadding=2 | + | {|align=center cellpadding=2 |
|- | |- | ||
− | |width=150|PLR := | + | |width=150|PLR := "X"<""; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |width=150|PLR := | + | |width=150|PLR := "X"<0; |
|(ABC becomes XABC) | |(ABC becomes XABC) | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:= "X"<"A"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:= "X"<1; |
|(ABC becomes XBC) | |(ABC becomes XBC) | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:= "XY"<"AB"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:= "XY"<2; |
|(ABC becomes XYC) | |(ABC becomes XYC) | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:="">"X"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |PLR:= 0> | + | |PLR:= 0>"X"; |
|(ABC becomes ABCX) | |(ABC becomes ABCX) | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:="C">"X"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |PLR:= 1> | + | |PLR:= 1>"X"; |
|(ABC becomes ABX) | |(ABC becomes ABX) | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |PLR:= | + | |PLR:="BC">"XY"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |PLR:= 2> | + | |PLR:= 2>"XY"; |
|(ABC becomes AXY) | |(ABC becomes AXY) | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | ;In infixation and duplication rules, the position of the addition may be made with reference to the end of string by using "-". | ||
+ | {|border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" | ||
+ | ! RULE | ||
+ | ! BEHAVIOR | ||
+ | ! BEFORE | ||
+ | ! AFTER | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |width=70| X:=[2]>"y"; | ||
+ | |width=300| if X add "y" to the right of the second character | ||
+ | |width=50| abc | ||
+ | |width=50| ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |X:=[-2]>"y"; | ||
+ | |if X add "y" to the right of the second last character | ||
+ | |abc | ||
+ | |ab'''y'''c | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |X:="y"<[2]; | ||
+ | |if X add "y" to the left of the second character | ||
+ | |abcde | ||
+ | |a'''y'''bc | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |X:="y"<[-2]; | ||
+ | |if X add "y" to the left of the second last character | ||
+ | |abcde | ||
+ | |abc'''y'''de | ||
+ | |} | ||
+ | ;In infixation and duplication rules, the reference may be either a string, a position or both: | ||
+ | {|border="1" align="center" cellpadding="2" | ||
+ | ! RULE | ||
+ | ! REFERENCE | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |width=100| X:=[1]>"y"; | ||
+ | |width=300| The reference is the position only ("y" will be inserted to the right of the first character) | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:=["a"]>"y"; | ||
+ | | The reference is the string only ("y" will be inserted to the right of any "a") | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | X:=[1="a"]>"y"; | ||
+ | | The reference is the position and the string ("y" will be inserted to the right of the first character if the first character is "a") | ||
|} | |} | ||
;In replacement rules, the part to be deleted may be omitted if the whole string is to be replaced: | ;In replacement rules, the part to be deleted may be omitted if the whole string is to be replaced: | ||
{|cellpadding=2 | {|cellpadding=2 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width=150|PLR:= | + | |width=150|PLR:="ABC":"XYZ"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |width=150|PLR:= | + | |width=150|PLR:="XYZ" |
|(ABC becomes XYZ) | |(ABC becomes XYZ) | ||
|} | |} | ||
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{|cellpadding=3 | {|cellpadding=3 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width=150|PLR:= | + | |width=150|PLR:="B":"X"; |
|= | |= | ||
− | |width=150|PLR:=[2-2]: | + | |width=150|PLR:=[2-2]:"X"; |
|(ABC becomes AXC) | |(ABC becomes AXC) | ||
|} | |} | ||
− | ;The symbol | + | ;The symbol "^" is used for negation ("^MCL" means "not MCL"): |
− | :NOU&^MCL:= | + | :NOU&^MCL:="x":"y"; (If NOU and not MCL then replace "x" by "y") |
− | ; | + | ;"<<" and ">>" add blank spaces<ref name="not"/> |
− | :X:= | + | :X:="a"<<"b" ("bc" becomes "a bc" and not "abc") |
+ | ;A-rules do not generate new words but only modify the existing ones. | ||
+ | :The A-rule "FUT:="will"<<0;" (i.e, generate "will" as a prefix to the base form in case of future) will transform "love" into "will love", which will be considered, however, as a single word and not as a compound. Notice that this is the reason why compound tenses must never be generated through A-rules; otherwise, it would never be possible to generate other words (such as "not", "always", etc) between "will" and "love". | ||
=== Common mistakes === | === Common mistakes === | ||
− | *nou:= | + | *nou:= "y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags are case sensitive) |
− | *NNN:= | + | *NNN:= "y"<"z"; (WRONG: NNN is not defined in the tagset) |
− | *NOUFEM:= | + | *NOUFEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags must be separated by "&") |
− | *NOU,FEM:= | + | *NOU,FEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags must be separated by "&") |
− | *NOU & FEM:= | + | *NOU & FEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: There can be no blank spaces between tags) |
*X:=1<1; (WRONG: The left side must always be a string in a prefixation rule) | *X:=1<1; (WRONG: The left side must always be a string in a prefixation rule) | ||
*X:=1>1; (WRONG: The right side must always be a string in a suffixation rule) | *X:=1>1; (WRONG: The right side must always be a string in a suffixation rule) | ||
*X:=1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers) | *X:=1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers) | ||
*X:=1:1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers) | *X:=1:1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers) | ||
− | == Complex | + | |
− | Complex | + | == Complex A-rules == |
+ | Complex A-rules are formed from the combination of simple A-rules: | ||
*circumfixation (prefixation + suffixation), to add a prefix and a suffix at the same time | *circumfixation (prefixation + suffixation), to add a prefix and a suffix at the same time | ||
− | *prefixation + infixation, to add a prefix and a | + | *prefixation + infixation, to add a prefix and a infix at the same time |
*infixation + suffixation, to add an infix and a suffix at the same time | *infixation + suffixation, to add an infix and a suffix at the same time | ||
*prefixation + infixation + suffixation, to add a prefix, an infix and a suffix at the same time | *prefixation + infixation + suffixation, to add a prefix, an infix and a suffix at the same time | ||
=== Syntax === | === Syntax === | ||
− | Complex | + | Complex A-rules are formed by concatenating simple a-rules with ",": |
<br> | <br> | ||
<br> | <br> | ||
'''circumfixation''' | '''circumfixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED , DELETED > "ADDED"; |
'''prefixation + infixation''' | '''prefixation + infixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED , DELETED > "ADDED"; |
'''infixation + suffixation''' | '''infixation + suffixation''' | ||
− | CONDITION := | + | CONDITION := DELETED > "ADDED" , "DELETED" > "ADDED"; |
− | + | etc. | |
− | + | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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! AFTER | ! AFTER | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |width=100| X:= | + | |width=100| X:="x"<0, 0>"y"; |
− | |width=300| if X add "x" to the beginning and " | + | |width=300| if X add "x" to the beginning and "y" to the end of the string |
|width=50| A | |width=50| A | ||
|width=50| '''x'''A'''y''' | |width=50| '''x'''A'''y''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="x"<0, "A":"y"; |
| if X add "x" to the beginning and replace "A" by "y" | | if X add "x" to the beginning and replace "A" by "y" | ||
| ABC | | ABC | ||
Line 251: | Line 367: | ||
| '''y'''BC'''x''' | | '''y'''BC'''x''' | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | X:= | + | | X:="x"<0, "A":"y", 0>"z"; |
| if X add "x" to the beginning, replace "A" by "y" and add "z" to the end of the string | | if X add "x" to the beginning, replace "A" by "y" and add "z" to the end of the string | ||
| ABC | | ABC | ||
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=== Observations === | === Observations === | ||
− | ;Complex | + | ;Complex A-rules are also used to integrate different simple A-rules: |
{|cellpadding=2 border=1 align=center | {|cellpadding=2 border=1 align=center | ||
|- | |- | ||
Line 266: | Line 382: | ||
;Actions are applied from left to right (i.e., order is important) | ;Actions are applied from left to right (i.e., order is important) | ||
:PLR := "s" > "ses", "y" > "ies"; (kiss > kisses, city > cities) | :PLR := "s" > "ses", "y" > "ies"; (kiss > kisses, city > cities) | ||
− | :PLR := "y" > "ies", "s" > "ses"; (kiss > | + | :PLR := "y" > "ies", "s" > "ses"; (kiss > kisses, city>cities>citieses) |
− | == Formal syntax | + | == Formal syntax == |
− | + | A-rules comply with the following syntax: | |
− | < | + | <A-RULE> ::= <CONDITION> ":=" <ACTION> ("," <ACTION>)* ";" |
− | <CONDITION> ::= <ATAG> | + | <CONDITION> ::= <ATAG>("&"("^")?<ATAG>)* |
<ATAG> ::= {one of the tags defined in the [[Tagset|UNDLF Tagset]]} | <ATAG> ::= {one of the tags defined in the [[Tagset|UNDLF Tagset]]} | ||
− | <ACTION> ::= < | + | <ACTION> ::= <PREFIXATION> | <SUFFIXATION> | <INFIXATION> | <REPLACEMENT> |
− | < | + | <PREFIXATION> ::= <ADDED> {"<" | "<<"} (<DELETED>)? |
− | < | + | <SUFFIXATION> ::= (<DELETED>)? {">" | ">>"} <ADDED> |
− | <REPLACEMENT> ::= | + | <INFIXATION> ::= "["<DELETED"]" ">" <ADDED> | <ADDED> "<" "["<DELETED"]" |
+ | <REPLACEMENT> ::= ( <STRING> ":" )? <ADDED> | "[" <INTEGER> "-" <INTEGER> "]" ":" <ADDED> | ||
<ADDED> ::= <STRING> | <ADDED> ::= <STRING> | ||
<DELETED> ::= <STRING> | <INTEGER> | <DELETED> ::= <STRING> | <INTEGER> | ||
− | <STRING> ::= | + | <STRING> ::= " " " [a..Z]+ " " " |
<INTEGER> ::= [0..9]+ | <INTEGER> ::= [0..9]+ | ||
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<a> = a is a non-terminal symbol<br /> | <a> = a is a non-terminal symbol<br /> | ||
− | + | "a" = a is a constant<br /> | |
− | + | ||
a | b = a or b<br /> | a | b = a or b<br /> | ||
{ a | b } = either a or b<br /> | { a | b } = either a or b<br /> | ||
− | a* = a can be repeated 0 or more times<br /> | + | (a)? = a can occur 0 or 1 time<br /> |
− | a+ = a can be repeated 1 or more times<br /> | + | (a)* = a can be repeated 0 or more times<br /> |
+ | (a)+ = a can be repeated 1 or more times<br /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Notes == | ||
+ | <references/> |
Latest revision as of 15:00, 5 September 2014
A-rule (affixation rule) is a specific type of transformation rule used for generating affixes (prefixes, suffixes, infixes) in the UNLarium framework.
Contents |
When to use A-rules
A-rules are used for prefixation, suffixation and infixation, i.e., for adding morphemes to a given base form. They are used for generating inflections (such as "book">"books", "love">"loved") or derivations (such as "dress">"undress", "write">"writer").
When not to use A-rules
A-rules are not used for composition (i.e., to form new words by combining or putting together old words), as in "give">"give in", "go">"have gone" or "man">"fireman"). This should be treated by C-rules.
Types of A-rules
There are two types of A-rules:
- simple A-rules involve a single action (such as prefixation, suffixation, infixation and replacement); and
- complex A-rules involve more than one action (such as circumfixation).
Simple A-rules
There are four types of simple A-rules:
- prefixation, for adding morphemes at the beginning of a base form.
- suffixation, for adding morphemes at the end of a base form
- infixation, for adding morphemes to the middle of the base form
- replacement, for changing the base form
Syntax
The syntax for simple A-rules is the following:
prefixation
CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED;
suffixation
CONDITION := DELETED > "ADDED";
infixation
CONDITION := [REFERENCE] > "ADDED"; CONDITION := "ADDED" < [REFERENCE];
replacement
CONDITION := DELETED : "ADDED";
duplication
CONDITION := [REFERENCE]+;
Where:
- CONDITION = tag (such as "PLR", "FEM", etc) or list of tags ("FEM&PLR") that indicates when the rule should be applied
- ADDED (between quotes) = the string to be added ;
- REFERENCE (between square brackets) = the reference string (between quotes) or the position (without quotes) of the string to be added;
- DELETED = the string (between quotes) or the number of characters (without quotes) to be deleted.
Examples
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:="y"<"z"; | if X replace the string "z" by the string "y" in the beginning of the string | zabc | yabc |
X:="y"<1; | if X replace the first character of the string by "y" | zabc | yabc |
X:="y"<0; | if X add the string "y" to the beginning of the string | zabc | yzabc |
X:="y"<;[1] | if X add the string "y" to the beginning of the string (idem previous) | zabc | yzabc |
X:="y"<<0;[1] | if X add the string "y" and a blank space to the beginning of the string | zabc | y zabc |
X:="y"<<;[1] | if X add the string "y" and a blank space to the beginning of the string (idem previous) | zabc | y zabc |
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:="z">"y"; | if X replace the string "z" by the string "y" in the end of the string | abcz | abcy |
X:=1>"y"; | if X replace the last character of the string by "y" | abcz | abcy |
X:=0>"y"; | if X add the string "y" to the end of the string | abcz | abczy |
X:=>"y";[1] | if X add the string "y" to the end of the string (idem previous) | abcz | abczy |
X:=0>>"y";[1] | if X add a blank space and the string "y" to the end of the string | abcz | abcz y |
X:=>>"y";[1] | if X add a blank space and the string "y" to the end of the string (idem previous) | abcz | abcz y |
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:=[2]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of the second character | abc | abyc |
X:="y"<[3]; | if X add "y" to the left of the third character | abc | abyc |
X:=["b"]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of "b"; | abc | abyc |
X:="y"<["c"]; | if X add "y" to the left of "c" | abc | abyc |
X:="y"<[3="c"]; | if X add "y" to the left of "c", if "c" is the third character | abc | abyc |
X:=[2,="b"]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of "b", if "b" is the second character; | abc | abyc |
X:=[-2]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of the second character from the right | abc | abyc |
X:="y"<[-2]; | if X add "y" to the left of the second character from the right | abc | aybc |
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:="y"; | if X replace the whole by "y" | X | y |
X:="z":"y"; | if X replace the string "z" by "y" | azbc | aybc |
X:=[2-3]:"y"; | if X replace the second to the third character by "y" | abcz | ayz |
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:=[2]+; | if X duplicate the second character | abc | abbc |
X:=[-2]+; | if X duplicate the second last character | abc | abbc |
X:=[2="b"]+; | if X duplicate the second character, if it is "b" | abc | abbc |
Observations
- Rules will only be applied if all conditions are true
- X:="y"<"z"; ( "zabc" changes to "yabc", but "abc" remains "abc" since there is no "z" to be replaced)
- String fields are necessarily continuous
- X:="aaa"<"xyz"; ( "xyzbbb" changes to "aaabbb", but "bxbybz" remains "bxbybz" since there is no continuous string "xyz" to be replaced)
- Prefixation, infixation and suffixation rules apply only once (i.e, rules are not exhaustive)
- PLR:=0>"s"; ("X" becomes "Xs", and not "Xssssss...")
- Replacement rules apply as long as the conditions are true
- X:="a":"b"; ( "aaa" becomes "bbb" and not "abb")
- In prefixation and suffixation rules, the part to be deleted may be represented by the number of characters (without quotes)
PLR := "X"<""; | = | PLR := "X"<0; | (ABC becomes XABC) |
PLR:= "X"<"A"; | = | PLR:= "X"<1; | (ABC becomes XBC) |
PLR:= "XY"<"AB"; | = | PLR:= "XY"<2; | (ABC becomes XYC) |
PLR:="">"X"; | = | PLR:= 0>"X"; | (ABC becomes ABCX) |
PLR:="C">"X"; | = | PLR:= 1>"X"; | (ABC becomes ABX) |
PLR:="BC">"XY"; | = | PLR:= 2>"XY"; | (ABC becomes AXY) |
- In infixation and duplication rules, the position of the addition may be made with reference to the end of string by using "-".
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:=[2]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of the second character | abc | abyc |
X:=[-2]>"y"; | if X add "y" to the right of the second last character | abc | abyc |
X:="y"<[2]; | if X add "y" to the left of the second character | abcde | aybc |
X:="y"<[-2]; | if X add "y" to the left of the second last character | abcde | abcyde |
- In infixation and duplication rules, the reference may be either a string, a position or both
RULE | REFERENCE |
---|---|
X:=[1]>"y"; | The reference is the position only ("y" will be inserted to the right of the first character) |
X:=["a"]>"y"; | The reference is the string only ("y" will be inserted to the right of any "a") |
X:=[1="a"]>"y"; | The reference is the position and the string ("y" will be inserted to the right of the first character if the first character is "a") |
- In replacement rules, the part to be deleted may be omitted if the whole string is to be replaced
PLR:="ABC":"XYZ"; | = | PLR:="XYZ" | (ABC becomes XYZ) |
- In replacement rules, the part to be deleted may be represented by an interval of characters in the format [beginning-end]
PLR:="B":"X"; | = | PLR:=[2-2]:"X"; | (ABC becomes AXC) |
- The symbol "^" is used for negation ("^MCL" means "not MCL")
- NOU&^MCL:="x":"y"; (If NOU and not MCL then replace "x" by "y")
- "<<" and ">>" add blank spaces[1]
- X:="a"<<"b" ("bc" becomes "a bc" and not "abc")
- A-rules do not generate new words but only modify the existing ones.
- The A-rule "FUT:="will"<<0;" (i.e, generate "will" as a prefix to the base form in case of future) will transform "love" into "will love", which will be considered, however, as a single word and not as a compound. Notice that this is the reason why compound tenses must never be generated through A-rules; otherwise, it would never be possible to generate other words (such as "not", "always", etc) between "will" and "love".
Common mistakes
- nou:= "y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags are case sensitive)
- NNN:= "y"<"z"; (WRONG: NNN is not defined in the tagset)
- NOUFEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags must be separated by "&")
- NOU,FEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: Tags must be separated by "&")
- NOU & FEM:="y"<"z"; (WRONG: There can be no blank spaces between tags)
- X:=1<1; (WRONG: The left side must always be a string in a prefixation rule)
- X:=1>1; (WRONG: The right side must always be a string in a suffixation rule)
- X:=1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers)
- X:=1:1; (WRONG: Replacement rules do not allow for numbers)
Complex A-rules
Complex A-rules are formed from the combination of simple A-rules:
- circumfixation (prefixation + suffixation), to add a prefix and a suffix at the same time
- prefixation + infixation, to add a prefix and a infix at the same time
- infixation + suffixation, to add an infix and a suffix at the same time
- prefixation + infixation + suffixation, to add a prefix, an infix and a suffix at the same time
Syntax
Complex A-rules are formed by concatenating simple a-rules with ",":
circumfixation
CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED , DELETED > "ADDED";
prefixation + infixation
CONDITION := "ADDED" < DELETED , DELETED > "ADDED";
infixation + suffixation
CONDITION := DELETED > "ADDED" , "DELETED" > "ADDED";
etc.
Examples
RULE | BEHAVIOR | BEFORE | AFTER |
---|---|---|---|
X:="x"<0, 0>"y"; | if X add "x" to the beginning and "y" to the end of the string | A | xAy |
X:="x"<0, "A":"y"; | if X add "x" to the beginning and replace "A" by "y" | ABC | xyBC |
X:="A":"y", 0>"x"; | if X replace "A" by "y" and add "x" to the end of the string | ABC | yBCx |
X:="x"<0, "A":"y", 0>"z"; | if X add "x" to the beginning, replace "A" by "y" and add "z" to the end of the string | ABC | xyBCz |
Observations
- Complex A-rules are also used to integrate different simple A-rules
ORD:="1">"1st"; ORD:="2">"2nd"; ORD:="3">"3rd"; |
ORD:="1">"1st", "2">"2nd", "3">"3rd"; |
- Actions are applied from left to right (i.e., order is important)
- PLR := "s" > "ses", "y" > "ies"; (kiss > kisses, city > cities)
- PLR := "y" > "ies", "s" > "ses"; (kiss > kisses, city>cities>citieses)
Formal syntax
A-rules comply with the following syntax:
<A-RULE> ::= <CONDITION> ":=" <ACTION> ("," <ACTION>)* ";" <CONDITION> ::= <ATAG>("&"("^")?<ATAG>)* <ATAG> ::= {one of the tags defined in the UNDLF Tagset} <ACTION> ::= <PREFIXATION> | <SUFFIXATION> | <INFIXATION> | <REPLACEMENT> <PREFIXATION> ::= <ADDED> {"<" | "<<"} (<DELETED>)? <SUFFIXATION> ::= (<DELETED>)? {">" | ">>"} <ADDED> <INFIXATION> ::= "["<DELETED"]" ">" <ADDED> | <ADDED> "<" "["<DELETED"]" <REPLACEMENT> ::= ( <STRING> ":" )? <ADDED> | "[" <INTEGER> "-" <INTEGER> "]" ":" <ADDED> <ADDED> ::= <STRING> <DELETED> ::= <STRING> | <INTEGER> <STRING> ::= " " " [a..Z]+ " " " <INTEGER> ::= [0..9]+
where
<a> = a is a non-terminal symbol
"a" = a is a constant
a | b = a or b
{ a | b } = either a or b
(a)? = a can occur 0 or 1 time
(a)* = a can be repeated 0 or more times
(a)+ = a can be repeated 1 or more times