Universal Relations

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== History of Universal Relations ==
 
== History of Universal Relations ==
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== Notes ==
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Revision as of 02:39, 11 September 2013

Universal Relations, formerly known as "links", are labelled arcs connecting a node to another node in a UNL graph. They correspond to two-place semantic predicates holding between two Universal Words. In UNL, universal relations have been normally used to represent semantic cases or thematic roles (such as agent, object, instrument, etc.) between UWs. The repertoire of universal relations is defined in the UNL Specs and it is not open to frequent additions.

Contents

Definition

In the UNL framework, universal relations describe semantic functions between two UWs. These functions are binary and directed (from a source to a target) and are claimed to be universal. Because of their similarity in name and function to syntactic relations, it may seem that the labels used for relations are different names for special grammatical functions. This is emphatically not the case. The intention is that the labels used denote specific ideas rather than grammatical structures: the idea of “something that initiates an event,” or “agent” for example, is quite different from “grammatical subject of a sentence”, even though many times the subject of a sentence will indicate the agent of the event. The agent of an event may also appear as an adjective or noun modifier, with the preposition “by” or embedded in nouns with “er” suffixes. The whole point of the conceptual relations is to have a name for these very different grammatical structures which are conceptually quite the same. Thus, the conceptual relations used in UNL are much more abstract than the grammatical relations found in sentences.

Syntax

Universal relations are represented as follows: 

<rel>:<scope>(<source>;<target>)

where:

  • <rel> is the name of the relation (two-character or three-character lower-case strings) (see the complete list of relations below)
  • <scope> is the scope of the relation (two-character unique identifier for the scope). The scope may be omitted if the main scope, i.e., :00. See scope.
  • <source> is the UW that assigns the relation <rel>
  • <target> is the UW that receives the relation <rel>.

Examples

  • agt(kill;Peter) = Peter is the agent of kill
  • obj(kill;Peter) = Peter is the patient of kill
  • tim(kill;yesterday) = yesterday is the time of kill
  • plc(kill;kicthen) = kitchen is the place of kill
  • mod(book;beautiful) = beautiful is a modifier of book
  • icl(document;book) = book is a type of document
  • iof(city;Paris) = Paris is an instance of city
  • agt:01(kill;Peter) = Peter is the agent of kill in the scope :01 (see scope).

List of Relations in alphabetical order

Tag Relation Definition Example
agt agent A participant in an action or process that provokes a change of state or location. John killed Mary = agt(killed;John)
Mary was killed by John = agt(killed;John)
arrival of John = agt(arrival;John)
and conjunction Used to state a conjunction between two entities. John and Mary = and(John;Mary)
both John and Mary = and(John;Mary)
neither John nor Mary = and(John;Mary)
John as well as Mary = and(John;Mary)
ant opposition or concession Used to indicate that two entities do not share the same meaning or reference. Also used to indicate concession. John is not Peter = ant(Peter;John)
3 + 2 != 6 = ant(6;3+2)
Although he's quiet, he's not shy = ant(he's not shy;he's quiet)
aoj stative object The subject of an stative verb. John has two daughters = aoj(have;John)
the book belongs to Mary = aoj(belong;book)
the book contains many pictures = aoj(contain;book)
John is sad = aoj(sad;John)
John looks sad = aoj(sad;John);
bas basis The basis of a comparison. John is more beautiful than Peter = bas(beautiful;Peter)
John is as intelligent as Mary = bas(intelligent;Mary)
John is the most intelligent of us = bas(intelligent;we)
ben beneficiary A participant who is advantaged or disadvantaged by an event. John works for Peter = ben(works;Peter)
John gave the book to Mary for Peter = ben(gave;Peter)
cnt content or theme The object of an stative or experiental verb, or the theme of an entity. John has two daughters = cnt(have;two daughters)
the book belongs to Mary = cnt(belong;Mary)
the book contains many pictures = cnt(contain;many pictures)
John believes in Mary = cnt(believe;Mary)
John saw Mary = cnt(saw;Mary)
John loves Mary = cnt(love;Mary)
The explosion was heard by everyone = cnt(hear;explosion)
a book about Peter = cnt(book;Peter)
con condition A condition of an event. If I see him, I will tell him = con(I will tell him;I see him)
I will tell him if I see him = con(I will tell him;I see him);
dur duration or co-occurrence The duration of an entity or event. John worked for five hours = dur(worked;five hours)
John worked hard the whole summer = dur(worked;the whole summer)
John completed the task in ten minutes = dur(completed;ten minutes)
John was reading while Peter was cooking = dur(John was reading;Peter was cooking)
equ synonym or paraphrasis Used to indicate that two entities share the same meaning or reference. Also used to indicate semantic apposition. The morning star is the evening star = equ(evening star;morning star)
3 + 2 = 5 = equ(5;3+2)
UN (United Nations) = equ(UN;United Nations)
John, the brother of Mary = equ(John;the brother of Mary)
exp experiencer A participant in an action or process who receives a sensory impression or is the locus of an experiential event. John believes in Mary = exp(believe;John)
John saw Mary = exp(saw;John)
John loves Mary = exp(love;John)
The explosion was heard by everyone = exp(hear;everyone)
fld field Used to indicate the semantic domain of an entity. sentence (linguistics) = fld(sentence;linguistics)
gol final state, place, destination or recipient The final state, place, destination or recipient of an entity or event. John received the book = gol(received;John)
John won the prize = gol(won;John)
John changed from poor to rich = gol(changed;rich)
John gave the book to Mary = gol(gave;Mary)
He threw the book at me = gol(threw;me)
John goes to NY = plt(go;NY)
train to NY = plt(train;NY)
icl is a kind of Used to refer to a subclass of a class. Dogs are mammals = icl(mammal;dogs)
ins instrument or method An inanimate entity or method that an agent uses to implement an event. It is the stimulus or immediate physical cause of an event. The cook cut the cake with a knife = ins(cut;knife)
She used a crayon to scribble a note = ins(used;crayon)
That window was broken by a hammer = ins(broken;hammer)
He solved the problem with a new algorithm = ins(solved;a new algorithm)
He solved the problem using an algorithm = ins(solved;using an algorithm)
He used Mathematics to solve the problem = ins(used;Mathematics)
iof is an instance of Used to refer to an instance or individual element of a class. John is a human being = iof(human being;John)
lpl logical place A non-physical place where an entity or event occurs or a state exists. John works in politics = lpl(works;politics)
John is in love = lpl(John;love)
officer in command = lpl(officer;command)
man manner Used to indicate how the action, experience or process of an event is carried out. John bought the car quickly = man(bought;quickly)
John bought the car in equal payments = man(bought;in equal payments)
John paid in cash = man(paid;in cash)
John wrote the letter in German = man(wrote;in German)
John wrote the letter in a bad manner = man(wrote;in a bad manner)
mat material Used to indicate the material of which an entity is made. A statue in bronze = mat(statue;bronze)
a wood box = mat(box;wood)
a glass mug = mat(mug;glass)
mod modifier A general modification of an entity. a beautiful book = mod(book;beautiful)
an old book = mod(book;old)
a book with 10 pages = mod(book;with 10 pages)
a book in hard cover = mod(book;in hard cover)
a poem in iambic pentameter = mod(poem;in iambic pentamenter)
a man in an overcoat = mod(man;in an overcoat)
nam name The name of an entity. The city of New York = nam(city;New York)
my friend Willy = nam(friend;Willy)
obj patient A participant in an action or process undergoing a change of state or location. John killed Mary = obj(killed;Mary)
Mary died = obj(died;Mary)
The snow melts = obj(melts;snow)
opl objective place A place affected by an action or process. John was hit in the face = opl(hit;face)
John fell in the water = opl(fell;water)
or disjunction Used to indicate a disjunction between two entities. John or Mary = or(John;Mary)
either John or Mary = or(John;Mary)
per proportion, rate, distribution or measure Used to indicate a measure or quantification of an event. The course was split in two parts = per(split;in two parts)
twice a week = per(twice;week)
The new coat costs $70 = per(cost;$70)
plc place The location or spatial orientation of an entity or event. John works here = plc(work;here)
John works in NY = plc(work;NY)
John works in the office = plc(work;office)
John is in the office = plc(John;office)
a night in Paris = plc(night;Paris)
pof is part of Used to refer to a part of a whole. John is part of the family = pof(family;John)
pos possessor The possessor of a thing. the book of John = pos(book;John)
John's book = pos(book;John)
his book = pos(book;he)
ptn partner A secondary (non-focused) participant in an event. John fights with Peter = ptn(fight;Peter)
John wrote the letter with Peter = ptn(wrote;Peter)
John lives with Peter = ptn(live;Peter)
pur purpose The purpose of an entity or event. John left early in order to arrive early = pur(John left early;arrive early)
You should come to see us = pur(you should come;see us)
book for children = pur(book;children)
qua quantity Used to express the quantity of an entity. two books = qua(book;2)
a group of students = qua(students;group)
res result or factitive A referent that results from an entity or event. The cook bake a cake = res(bake;cake)
They built a very nice building = res(built;a very nice building)
rsn reason The reason of an entity or event. John left because it was late = rsn(John left;it was late)
John killed Mary because of John = rsn(killed;John)
seq sequence or consequence Used to express a sequence of events. John cleaned the room before Peter left = seq(John cleaned the room;Peter left)
Peter left after John cleaned the room = seq(John cleaned the room;Peter left)
src initial state, place, origin or source The initial state, place, origin or source of an entity or event. John came from NY = src(came;NY)
John is from NY = src(John;NY)
train from NY = src(train;NY)
John changed from poor into rich = src(changed;poor)
John received the book from Peter = src(received;Peter)
John withdrew the money from the cashier = src(withdrew;cashier)
tim time The temporal placement of an entity or event. The whistle will sound at noon = tim(sound;noon)
John came yesterday = tim(came;yesterday)
tmf initial time The initial time of an entity or event. John worked since early = tmf(worked;early)
tmt final time The final time of an entity or event. John worked until late = tmt(worked;late)
via intermediate state or place The intermediate place or state of an entity or event. John went from NY to Geneva through Paris = via(went;Paris)

Observations

  1. Arguments of relations are not commutative:
    mod(evidence;absence) is different from mod(absence;evidence)
  2. The <target> defines the relation, i.e., <target> is <rel> of <source> in <scope>
    mod(evidence;absence) = absence is the modifier of evidence, i.e., evidence of absence
    mod(absence;evidence) = evidence is the modifier of absence, i.e., absence of evidence

History of Universal Relations

The set of relations has been undergoing some changes throughout the history of UNL. The table below presents the list of relations according to the several UNL Specs.  

RELATION DEFINITION 1996 1.0 1.5 2.0 1998 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 2005 2010
agt agent
and conjunction
ant antonym                  
aoj attributive object
bas basis
ben beneficiary      
cag co-agent [1]
cao co-thing with attribute        
cau cause                    
cnt content  
cob co-object    
con condition
coo co-occurrence [2]
dur duration      
equ synonym    
exp experiencer                  
fld semantic field                  
fmt from-to  
frm origin       [3]
gol goal
icl inclusion    
ins instrument  
iof an instance of    
lpl logical place              
man manner
mat material                  
met method [4]
mod modifier
nam name      
num number                    
obj object
opl objective place
or disjunction
per unit to measure object
plc place      
plf initial place  
plt final place  
pof part-of    
pos possessor    
ppl physical place               [5]
ptn partner
pur purpose
qua quantity
res theme                    
rsn reason      
scn scene       [6]
seq sequential order
shd sentence head                    
smd not semantically related                  
soj stative object                    
src source
tim time
tmf time-from
tmt time-to
to destination       [7]
via intermediate place    

Notes

  1. ↑ Subsumed by ptn (partner).
  2. ↑ Subsumed by dur (duration)
  3. ↑ Subsumed by src (source)
  4. ↑ Subsumed by ins (instrument)
  5. ↑ Replaced by plc (place)
  6. ↑ Replaced by lpl (logical place)
  7. ↑ Subsumed by gol (goal)
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