Grammar formalisms viewed as evolving algebras

David E. Johnson

Lawrence S. Moss

pp. 537-560

in: Linguistics and Philosophy 17 (6), 1994.

Abstract

We consider the use ofevolving algebra methods of specifying grammars for natural languages. We are especially interested in distributed evolving algebras. We provide the motivation for doing this, and we give a reconstruction of some classic grammar formalisms in directly dynamic terms. Finally, we consider some technical questions arising from the use of direct dynamism in grammar formalisms.