Prolog and Natural Language Analysis
✒️ By Fernando C. N. Pereira, Stuart M. Shieber
Dive into the world where computers meet language! ‘Prolog and Natural Language Analysis’ by Pereira and Shieber is a unique guide that bridges artificial intelligence with linguistics. The authors unravel the mysteries of how Prolog, that quirky logic programming language, can be used to analyze and understand human language. Whether you’re a coder, a linguist, or just curious about how machines interpret words, this book gives you a front-row seat to the magic.
Book Description
Ever wondered how computers make sense of our messy, beautiful languages? ‘Prolog and Natural Language Analysis’ is your backstage pass to this fascinating show. Pereira and Shieber take you on a journey through logic programming as it meets linguistics, showing off how Prolog isn’t just for math geeksit’s actually a powerful tool for breaking down grammar and meaning. The book is packed with practical examples and the kind of insights that make you go, “Wait, computers can do THAT?”
Book Overview
This isn’t your typical dry textbook. The authors inject wit and clarity into every chapter, making complex topics feel surprisingly friendly. You’ll start with the basics of Prologdon’t worry if you’ve never seen it before!and quickly move to real-world applications in natural language processing (NLP). If you’ve ever tried to write code that understands English (or any other language), you know how tricky it gets. With this book, you’ll see why Prolog is such a favorite among computational linguists. And hey, if you’re curious about other resources on logic programming, check out this excellent introduction to Logic Programming and Prolog for even more depth.
Why Read This Book
Let’s be honestlanguage is weird. There are exceptions to every rule, idioms that make no sense, and sentences that twist your brain into knots. This book doesn’t shy away from those challenges; instead, it embraces them! It’s written for curious minds who want to see how logic programming can untangle even the knottiest sentence structures. Plus, there’s a certain thrill in seeing your code parse a sentence correctly for the first time. If you’re looking to expand your skills or just want bragging rights at your next AI meetup, this book delivers.
Who This Book Is For
If you love puzzles, languages, or programming (or all three!), this is your jam. It’s perfect for students dipping their toes into computational linguistics or seasoned developers wanting a fresh take on NLP tools. Even if Prolog sounds intimidating right now, don’t sweat itthe authors keep things approachable. And if you’re itching to get hands-on with Prolog itself, the GNU Prolog Manual is a fantastic companion resource.
What You Will Learn
- The basics of Prolog syntax and logic programming concepts
- How to represent linguistic structures in code
- Parsing techniques for natural languages using Prolog
- Tackling ambiguity and complexity in human language
- Real-world applications in NLP projects
- Creative problem-solving approaches inspired by linguistics
- Tons of examples that make theory feel practical (and fun!)
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