Inferential searches of knowledge networks as an approach to extensible language understanding systems
David D. McDonald, Frederick A. Hayes-Roth · ACM SIGART Bulletin · 1977
A program has been constructed that implements some inference schemes for inferring the meaning of noun-noun, adjective-noun, and agent-verb-object phrases from the constituent words. Dictionary definitions of words are input directly into a semantic network using a context free grammar implemented in a production system. To interpret a novel phrase (e.g., lawn mower, car tire, car wheel) semantically, an intersection search originating from the nodes representing the constituent words is performed in the semantic network. If an intersection is found, a meaning for the phrase is produced; otherwise the phrase is not interpreted. During this interpretation, only knowledge provided by dictionary definitions and parts of speech of words is used.