As taught in: Summer 2010
At: SIL-UND 2010
Level: Graduate
Instructor: Eleni Koutsomitopoulou email: [email protected]
Class time: Daily 10:00-10:50 am
Class location: Johnstone 14 (basement computer lab)
NB: change of location – was Gamb 372
Office hours: Thursday 3:30-4:30pm
Office location: Smith 107
Course web site: The UND Blackboard system, at http://online.und.edu
Course Description:
An overview of practical applications of computational linguistics to the syntax and morphology of natural language. Following the data-driven computational paradigm we examine tools (e.g. FLEx, VisualText, WordSmith) as well as text processing techniques (in Unix and Python) that can be applied usefully also to smaller corpora, such as those commonly collected in field linguistic and language documentation projects in lesser-studied languages. Applications include morphological parsing for the facilitation of interlinear texts, discovery and extraction of the grammatical patterns of a language, and shallow-transfer machine translation between closely related languages. This is a three semester hours course with 43 class hours. There is no required textbook but there will be an assortment of relevant readings. There will be no final exam but there will be a project due in the final week of classes for in-class presentation and submission of a final write-up.
At: SIL-UND 2010
Level: Graduate
Instructor: Eleni Koutsomitopoulou email: [email protected]
Class time: Daily 10:00-10:50 am
Class location: Johnstone 14 (basement computer lab)
NB: change of location – was Gamb 372
Office hours: Thursday 3:30-4:30pm
Office location: Smith 107
Course web site: The UND Blackboard system, at http://online.und.edu
Course Description:
An overview of practical applications of computational linguistics to the syntax and morphology of natural language. Following the data-driven computational paradigm we examine tools (e.g. FLEx, VisualText, WordSmith) as well as text processing techniques (in Unix and Python) that can be applied usefully also to smaller corpora, such as those commonly collected in field linguistic and language documentation projects in lesser-studied languages. Applications include morphological parsing for the facilitation of interlinear texts, discovery and extraction of the grammatical patterns of a language, and shallow-transfer machine translation between closely related languages. This is a three semester hours course with 43 class hours. There is no required textbook but there will be an assortment of relevant readings. There will be no final exam but there will be a project due in the final week of classes for in-class presentation and submission of a final write-up.
Course Requirements and Grading System
A. Daily class attendance
B. Reading assignments
C. Participation in class activities
D. Assignments and quizzes
E. In class presentation of final project (with handout)
F. Final project write-up (analysis of the problem, step by step documentation of the solution)
G. Grading System Weighting:
Grading system:
1. Attendance and participation 10%
2. Presentation 10%
3. Assignments and Quizzes 50%
4. Final project 30%
Student grades will not be changed once work is handed back to the student, except in cases of clear-cut
clerical or procedural errors in grading (e.g. marking an answer wrong that is clearly right, or
adding up points incorrectly).
Attendance:
Class attendance is strongly recommended and encouraged. Your work will soon suffer if you don’t
come to class. If you miss a class, be sure to find out what you missed. If possible, make arrangements
to tape record class discussions or to copy someone’s notes.
Assignments, quizzes and final projects:
Assignments and quizzes comprise 50% of the final grade. There will be no surprise quizzes. Unless
specified otherwise, assignments must be completed individually.
2. Assignments include readings, essays and/or exercises
3. Past-due assignments will not be credited
4. The course content is divided in 5 thematic units; these are interconnected but also
autonomous. Each unit will include a variable number of assignments and quizzes as
the need arises. The total number of the assignments and quizzes of each unit counts
towards 10% of the final grade.
5. Forgotten or missed assignments are not credited and therefore they may affect your
final grade.
6. Assignments are due in hard-copy unless otherwise specified (i.e. please do not send
them over email unless I have explicitly said so).
2. Quizzes will occur at the end of each week for this week's material.
3. Some quizzes will involve short software development exercises implemented on the
spot (on paper or on the computer).
natural language they would like to focus on and implement a short project relevant to
the tools and techniques presented in class.
2. Projects will not be accepted after the due date
3. Projects will be presented in class during the last week of classes
4. For the final submission, the students will prepare a short (2-5 -pages) report that
briefly explains the problem and describes the suggested solution and implementation.
5. The final project comprises 30% of the final grade. Criteria for the evaluation include
successful implementation, correct outcome and sufficient documentation.
6. The complexity of the final project will depend on the background and relevant prior
experience of the student; however it is not a criterion for the evaluation.
new roman font, proofread and spellchecked. Handwritten assignments are not
accepted. Credits will be deducted for poor spelling and careless presentation.
Reading assignments:
Quizzes will be based on both material covered in class as well as any assigned readings. Therefore, it
is required that you complete any reading assignments before class.
Copies of all required readings will be on reserve in the SIL Reading Room. Restrictions apply as to
their removal from the room, depending on the number of copies available. Please be considerate of
others by returning resources promptly.
Some materials may be an easy online download. Instructions will be provided as needed.
Class presentations:
Each student will present their final project in class and prepare a class handout. The oral presentation
will have specific time limitations depending on the number of presenters on that day. Guidelines will
be provided for what to include in each presentation.
Blackboard:
We will be using UND’s Blackboard system for some purposes, including course announcements and
certain course materials. Each student is responsible for checking their Blackboard account every class
day. Time sensitive announcements will be distributed by email, so please make sure that your email
address in Blackboard (and other records) is correct.
For those requiring special accommodations:
If you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, if you need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course
because of a recognized disability, please talk with him about it or provide him with a written request
SIL-UND 2010 LING 507 Computational Syntax and Morphology 3
describing your situation. Please do this during the first week of class. If you prefer, you may seek
assistance through UND’s office of Disability Support Services (DSS) office (190 McCannel Hall, 777-
3425 v/tty).
A. Daily class attendance
B. Reading assignments
C. Participation in class activities
D. Assignments and quizzes
E. In class presentation of final project (with handout)
F. Final project write-up (analysis of the problem, step by step documentation of the solution)
G. Grading System Weighting:
Grading system:
1. Attendance and participation 10%
2. Presentation 10%
3. Assignments and Quizzes 50%
4. Final project 30%
Student grades will not be changed once work is handed back to the student, except in cases of clear-cut
clerical or procedural errors in grading (e.g. marking an answer wrong that is clearly right, or
adding up points incorrectly).
Attendance:
Class attendance is strongly recommended and encouraged. Your work will soon suffer if you don’t
come to class. If you miss a class, be sure to find out what you missed. If possible, make arrangements
to tape record class discussions or to copy someone’s notes.
Assignments, quizzes and final projects:
Assignments and quizzes comprise 50% of the final grade. There will be no surprise quizzes. Unless
specified otherwise, assignments must be completed individually.
- Assignments
2. Assignments include readings, essays and/or exercises
3. Past-due assignments will not be credited
4. The course content is divided in 5 thematic units; these are interconnected but also
autonomous. Each unit will include a variable number of assignments and quizzes as
the need arises. The total number of the assignments and quizzes of each unit counts
towards 10% of the final grade.
5. Forgotten or missed assignments are not credited and therefore they may affect your
final grade.
6. Assignments are due in hard-copy unless otherwise specified (i.e. please do not send
them over email unless I have explicitly said so).
- Quizzes
2. Quizzes will occur at the end of each week for this week's material.
3. Some quizzes will involve short software development exercises implemented on the
spot (on paper or on the computer).
- Projects
natural language they would like to focus on and implement a short project relevant to
the tools and techniques presented in class.
2. Projects will not be accepted after the due date
3. Projects will be presented in class during the last week of classes
4. For the final submission, the students will prepare a short (2-5 -pages) report that
briefly explains the problem and describes the suggested solution and implementation.
5. The final project comprises 30% of the final grade. Criteria for the evaluation include
successful implementation, correct outcome and sufficient documentation.
6. The complexity of the final project will depend on the background and relevant prior
experience of the student; however it is not a criterion for the evaluation.
- Writing
new roman font, proofread and spellchecked. Handwritten assignments are not
accepted. Credits will be deducted for poor spelling and careless presentation.
Reading assignments:
Quizzes will be based on both material covered in class as well as any assigned readings. Therefore, it
is required that you complete any reading assignments before class.
Copies of all required readings will be on reserve in the SIL Reading Room. Restrictions apply as to
their removal from the room, depending on the number of copies available. Please be considerate of
others by returning resources promptly.
Some materials may be an easy online download. Instructions will be provided as needed.
Class presentations:
Each student will present their final project in class and prepare a class handout. The oral presentation
will have specific time limitations depending on the number of presenters on that day. Guidelines will
be provided for what to include in each presentation.
Blackboard:
We will be using UND’s Blackboard system for some purposes, including course announcements and
certain course materials. Each student is responsible for checking their Blackboard account every class
day. Time sensitive announcements will be distributed by email, so please make sure that your email
address in Blackboard (and other records) is correct.
For those requiring special accommodations:
If you have emergency medical information to share with the instructor, if you need special
arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, or if you need accommodations in this course
because of a recognized disability, please talk with him about it or provide him with a written request
SIL-UND 2010 LING 507 Computational Syntax and Morphology 3
describing your situation. Please do this during the first week of class. If you prefer, you may seek
assistance through UND’s office of Disability Support Services (DSS) office (190 McCannel Hall, 777-
3425 v/tty).
