Autori
Greco, Alberto
Carrea, Elena

Titolo
Discriminabilità, composizionalità e fondamento dei simboli
Periodico
Sistemi intelligenti
Anno: 2012 - Fascicolo: 2 - Pagina iniziale: 259 - Pagina finale: 276

The classical computational approach considers cognitive processes as symbolicmanipulations, without addressing the symbol grounding problem, namely howsymbols are referred to objects and events in the real world. Sensorimotorinteraction allows artificial systems to ground symbols, by associating themwith non-symbolic representations. In this paper we deal with the relationshipof the symbol grounding problem with compositionality of language and ofobject properties. We outline and discuss the results of two experiments, set upto study whether a direct correspondence can be found between properties ofobjects and parts of linguistic expressions, so that verbal labels are groundedon single or composite features. We used two kinds of visual stimuli, the firstwith clearly distinguishable properties (separable) and the second with propertiesthat blend together (integral), and associated them with verbal labelsof two kinds, consisting of a single word (holistic) or a two-word expression(compositional). The results support the hypothesis that single verbal labels arebest grounded on integral stimuli, while stimuli with separable features act asa better ground for compositional expressions. A separate experiment showedthat integral stimuli are perceived in a less stable fashion than separable ones,suggesting that some kind of stimulus properties are not fit to act as primitivesin composite expressions. The role of feature discrimination as a process opening«grounding spaces» is discussed, and the bidirectional nature of groundingprocess is stressed, where words are grounded on features but can also facilitatefeature discrimination. Overall, our study emphasizes the need of consideringjointly symbol grounding and compositionality.



SICI: 1120-9550(2012)2<259:DCEFDS>2.0.ZU;2-3
Testo completo: http://www.mulino.it/download/article/10.1422/37901
Testo completo alternativo: http://www.mulino.it/doi/10.1422/37901

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