LINGUIST List 15.2320

Tue Aug 17 2004

Jobs: Discourse Representation: Researcher, U Jena

Editor for this issue: Vanessa Manion <vanessalinguistlist.org>

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  • manfred.consten, Jobs: German, Standard & Semantics: Researcher, Universitaet Jena

    Message 1: Jobs: German, Standard & Semantics: Researcher, Universitaet Jena

     Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2004 12:27:07 -0400 (EDT)
    From: manfred.consten <manfred.constenuni-jena.de>
    Subject: Jobs: German, Standard & Semantics: Researcher, Universitaet Jena




    University or Organization: Universitaet Jena Department: Institut fuer Germanistische Sprachwissenschaft Rank of Job: Researcher Specialty Areas: Cognitive Science, Semantics, Text/Corpus Ling, Discourse Representation Theory Required Language(s):German, Standard (Code GER)

    Description:

    Research Assistant position (BAT IIa/2) in the DFG research group KomplexTex -- On textual functions of complex anaphors for a fix term of two years from 1.1.2005. The job is part of a research project on complex-anaphors (granted by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). Our project started in 2003 and recently has been granted for further two years. Complex-anaphors (abstract object anaphora, ASHER 1993; labelling,FRANCIS 1994) are nominal expressions that refer to propositional structured objects that can be classified in abstractness hierarchies (such as propositions, states, facts and events). At the same time, this very act of reference establishes them as unified discourse entities and, sometimes, also evaluates them. Therefore complex-anaphors are an important means of establishing coherence in texts. The project is partly based on DRT-approaches (discourse representation theory); furthermore, we are going to solve some problems of DRT by enriching the DRS (discourse representation structure) with information about the ontological status of discourse objects as well as conceptualy based resolving strategies. Thus, we will integrate constraints based on an abstractness hierarchy into an anaphora resolution model that combines DRT- and cognitive aspects. For this reason, applicants should have strong research interests in formal as well as cognitive semantics and psycholinguistics. Our work will also cover so-called indirect (antecedentless) complex-anaphora and aims at a general model of anaphora resolution integrating direct/indirect and nominal/complex anaphora. Another item (that requires corpus based studies) is the distribution of German demonstrative pronouns vs. personal pronouns as a means of direct/ indirect complex anaphora.

    Address for Applications:

    Attn: Prof. Dr. Monika Schwarz-Friesel FSU-Institut fuer Germanistische Sprachwissenschaft Jena, 07740 Germany

    Applications are due by 15-Oct-2004

    Contact Information:

    Dr. Manfred Consten Email: manfred.constenuni-jena.de Tel: +493641944317 Fax: +493641944302 Website: http://www.uni-jena.de