Report Number: CS-TR-67-80
Institution: Stanford University, Department of Computer Science
Title: Directed random generation of sentences
Author: Friedman, Joyce
Date: October 1967
Abstract: The problem of producing sentences of a transformational
grammar by using a random generator to create phrase
structure trees for input to the lexical insertion and
transformational phases is discussed. A purely random
generator will produce base trees which will be blocked by
the transformations, and which are frequently too long to be
of practical interest. A solution is offered in the form of a
computer program which allows the user to constrain and
direct the generation by the simple but powerful device of
restricted subtrees. The program is a directed random
generator which accepts as input a subtree with restrictions
and produces around it a tree which satisfies the
restrictions and is ready for the next phase of the grammar.
The underlying linguistic model is that of Noam Chomsky, as
presented in "Aspects of the Theory of Syntax." The program
is written in Fortran IV for the IBM 360/67 and is part of
the Stanford Transformational Grammar Testing System. It is
currently being used with several partial grammars of
English.
http://i.stanford.edu/pub/cstr/reports/cs/tr/67/80/CS-TR-67-80.pdf