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Handling Ambiguity

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James Tauber edited this page Dec 18, 2015 · 12 revisions

A catalog of types of ambiguity we face and how we'll deal with them.

This is incomplete and a work in progress. It's a proposal designed to start conversation. Not everything (or even much) is set in stone.

Basic Syncretism

I include here things that can be modelled as one property being underspecified either partially or completely (we might want to further divide that into two categories). Note that partial underspecification could be modelled as complete underspecification by splitting the property into multiple properties (e.g. splitting case into N,A vs G,D or gender into animate vs inanimate)

Examples are:

  • nominative vs accusative neuter
  • the gender of genitive plurals
  • animate vs inanimate in two-termination adjectives
  • feminine vs non-feminine in non-nominative and non-accusative-plural three-termination adjectives

Extended Syncretism

I include here things that involve ambiguity between two properties (but still fixed pairs of possibilities)

  • 1st person singular vs 3rd person plural
  • 1st declension genitive singular vs accusative plural

Non-Examples

  • middle vs passive (this shouldn't be modelled as ambiguity; we should just model the form not the semantics)

Cross-Overs

  • neuter adjectives functioning as adverbs
  • neuter adjectives functioning as nouns
  • verbs fossilised as particles

Raw List from MorphGNT/SBLGNT

99 ['N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----NSN-'] 50 ['N- ----APN-', 'N- ----NPN-'] 37 ['V- 2PAD-P--', 'V- 2PAI-P--'] 33 ['A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 32 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 30 ['N- ----APF-', 'N- ----GSF-'] 27 ['A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 23 ['D- --------', 'P- --------'] 22 ['A- ----DSM-', 'A- ----DSN-'] 20 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 18 ['V- 1AAI-S--', 'V- 3AAI-P--'] 18 ['V- -PAPDPM-', 'V- 3PAI-P--'] 15 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 15 ['C- --------', 'D- --------'] 15 ['A- ----GSM-', 'A- ----GSN-'] 14 ['V- 1AAS-S--', 'V- 1FAI-S--'] 13 ['V- 1PAI-S--', 'V- 1PAS-S--'] 13 ['A- ----NSF-', 'A- ----NSM-'] 12 ['N- ----NPM-', 'N- ----VPM-'] 12 ['A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----VPM-'] 12 ['A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-'] 12 ['A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----DPN-'] 10 ['V- 1IAI-S--', 'V- 3IAI-P--'] 8 ['A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 8 ['A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-'] 7 ['V- -PAPGSM-', 'V- -PAPGSN-'] 7 ['V- -PAPASN-', 'V- -PAPNSN-'] 7 ['V- -PAPASM-', 'V- -PAPNPN-'] 7 ['N- ----NSF-', 'N- ----VSF-'] 7 ['N- ----DSF-', 'V- 3FAI-S--'] 6 ['N- ----APM-', 'N- ----NPM-'] 6 ['A- ----ASNC', 'A- ----NSNC'] 6 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----ASM-'] 5 ['V- 2PMD-P--', 'V- 2PMI-P--'] 5 ['N- ----NSM-', 'N- ----VSM-'] 5 ['N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 5 ['N- ----APF-', 'N- ----NPF-'] 4 ['V- 3PMI-S--', 'V- 3PPI-S--'] 4 ['V- 3PAI-S--', 'V- 3PAS-S--'] 4 ['N- ----NSF-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 4 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----GSF-'] 4 ['D- --------', 'X- --------'] 4 ['C- --------', 'X- --------'] 4 ['C- --------', 'P- --------'] 4 ['A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 4 ['A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-'] 4 ['A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-'] 4 ['A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----DPM-'] 4 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 4 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-'] 3 ['V- -XPPASM-', 'V- -XPPASN-'] 3 ['V- -PMPASM-', 'V- -PMPNSN-'] 3 ['V- -PAPAPN-', 'V- -PAPASM-', 'V- -PAPNPN-'] 3 ['V- -AAPASM-', 'V- -AAPNPN-'] 3 ['V- -AAN----', 'V- 3AAO-S--'] 3 ['RR ----APN-', 'RR ----NPN-'] 3 ['RI ----ASN-', 'RI ----NSN-'] 3 ['RI ----APF-', 'RI ----APM-'] 3 ['RD ----APN-', 'RD ----NPN-'] 3 ['N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----VSM-'] 3 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSM-', 'N- ----VSM-'] 3 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----ASM-'] 3 ['N- ----APN-', 'N- ----NPN-', 'N- ----VPN-'] 3 ['I- --------', 'X- --------'] 3 ['C- --------', 'D- --------', 'X- --------'] 3 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----NSF-'] 3 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----GSF-'] 2 ['V- 3PAI-P--', 'V- 3PAS-P--'] 2 ['V- 2PPD-P--', 'V- 2PPI-P--'] 2 ['V- 2PAD-P--', 'V- 2PAI-P--', 'V- 2PAS-P--'] 2 ['V- 2FMI-S--', 'V- 3AAS-S--'] 2 ['V- 1PAI-P--', 'V- 1PAS-P--'] 2 ['V- -XPPASN-', 'V- -XPPNSN-'] 2 ['V- -XPPASM-', 'V- -XPPNSN-'] 2 ['V- -XAPASN-', 'V- -XAPNSN-'] 2 ['V- -PPPASM-', 'V- -PPPASN-'] 2 ['V- -PMPGSM-', 'V- -PMPGSN-'] 2 ['V- -PMPASM-', 'V- -PMPASN-'] 2 ['V- -PMN----', 'V- -PPN----'] 2 ['V- -PAPGPM-', 'V- -PAPGPN-'] 2 ['V- -PAPDSM-', 'V- -PAPDSN-'] 2 ['V- -PAPAPN-', 'V- -PAPASM-'] 2 ['V- -APPASN-', 'V- -APPNSN-'] 2 ['V- -AMPGSM-', 'V- -AMPGSN-'] 2 ['RI ----NSF-', 'RI ----NSM-'] 2 ['RI ----GSM-', 'RI ----GSN-'] 2 ['RI ----GPM-', 'RI ----GPN-'] 2 ['RI ----DSF-', 'RI ----DSM-', 'RI ----DSN-'] 2 ['RD ----GSM-', 'RD ----GSN-'] 2 ['RD ----GPF-', 'RD ----GPM-', 'RD ----GPN-'] 2 ['RD ----DSM-', 'RD ----DSN-'] 2 ['RD ----DPM-', 'RD ----DPN-'] 2 ['RD ----ASN-', 'RD ----NSN-'] 2 ['N- ----NPF-', 'N- ----VPF-'] 2 ['N- ----GSF-', 'N- ----GSM-'] 2 ['N- ----GPM-', 'V- -PAPNSM-'] 2 ['N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 2 ['N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----DSM-'] 2 ['N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----NSN-', 'N- ----VSN-'] 2 ['N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----NSM-', 'N- ----NSN-'] 2 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----GSM-'] 2 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSM-'] 2 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----GSF-', 'N- ----NSF-', 'N- ----VSF-'] 2 ['N- ----APM-', 'N- ----NPM-', 'N- ----VPM-'] 2 ['A- ----NSFC', 'A- ----NSMC'] 2 ['A- ----NPN-', 'A- ----NSF-'] 2 ['A- ----NPM-', 'RP ----DS--'] 2 ['A- ----GSFC', 'A- ----GSMC'] 2 ['A- ----GSF-', 'A- ----GSM-'] 2 ['A- ----DSF-', 'A- ----DSM-'] 2 ['A- ----ASN-', 'D- --------'] 2 ['A- ----ASF-', 'N- ----ASF-'] 2 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 2 ['A- ----APNC', 'A- ----ASFC', 'A- ----ASMC'] 2 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----ASM-'] 2 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['V- 3XMI-S--', 'V- 3XPI-S--'] 1 ['V- 3AAI-S--', 'V- 3IAI-S--'] 1 ['V- 2XAD-P--', 'V- 2XAI-P--'] 1 ['V- 2PMI-P--', 'V- 2PPI-P--'] 1 ['V- 2IAI-P--', 'V- 2PAS-P--'] 1 ['V- 2AMS-S--', 'V- 2FMI-S--'] 1 ['V- 2AAD-S--', 'X- --------'] 1 ['V- 2AAD-P--', 'V- 2AAS-P--'] 1 ['V- 2AAD-P--', 'V- 2AAI-P--'] 1 ['V- 1IAI-P--', 'V- 1PAI-P--'] 1 ['V- 1AAS-S--', 'V- 1FAI-S--', 'V- 1PAI-S--', 'V- 1PAS-S--'] 1 ['V- -XPPNPM-', 'V- -XPPVPM-'] 1 ['V- -XPPGPM-', 'V- -XPPGPN-'] 1 ['V- -XPPASM-', 'V- -XPPASN-', 'V- -XPPNSN-'] 1 ['V- -XPPAPN-', 'V- -XPPNPN-'] 1 ['V- -XAPGPM-', 'V- -XAPGPN-'] 1 ['V- -XAPAPN-', 'V- -XAPASM-'] 1 ['V- -PPPGSM-', 'V- -PPPGSN-'] 1 ['V- -PPPASM-', 'V- -PPPNSN-'] 1 ['V- -PPPAPN-', 'V- -PPPNPN-'] 1 ['V- -PMPNPM-', 'V- -PPPNPM-'] 1 ['V- -PMPDSM-', 'V- -PMPDSN-'] 1 ['V- -PMPDPM-', 'V- -PMPDPN-'] 1 ['V- -PMPASM-', 'V- -PPPASM-'] 1 ['V- -PMPASM-', 'V- -PMPASN-', 'V- -PMPNSN-'] 1 ['V- -PAPDPN-', 'V- 3PAI-P--'] 1 ['V- -PAPASN-', 'V- -PAPNSM-'] 1 ['V- -PAPAPN-', 'V- -PAPNPN-'] 1 ['V- -AMPGPF-', 'V- -AMPGPM-', 'V- -AMPGPN-'] 1 ['V- -AMPDPM-', 'V- -AMPDPN-'] 1 ['V- -AMPASM-', 'V- -AMPASN-'] 1 ['V- -AAPGSM-', 'V- -AAPGSN-'] 1 ['V- -AAN----', 'V- -PAN----'] 1 ['RR ----GPF-', 'RR ----GPM-', 'RR ----GPN-'] 1 ['RR ----DSM-', 'RR ----DSN-'] 1 ['RR ----DPM-', 'RR ----DPN-'] 1 ['RR ----ASN-', 'RR ----NSN-'] 1 ['RR ----ASM-', 'RR ----NSN-'] 1 ['RR ----ASM-', 'RR ----ASN-', 'RR ----NSN-'] 1 ['RP ----GSM-', 'RP ----GSN-'] 1 ['RP ----GPF-', 'RP ----GPM-', 'RP ----GPN-'] 1 ['RP ----DPM-', 'RP ----DPN-'] 1 ['RI ----NSM-', 'RR ----NSM-'] 1 ['RI ----NPF-', 'RI ----NPM-'] 1 ['RI ----GPF-', 'RI ----GPM-'] 1 ['RI ----DSM-', 'RI ----DSN-'] 1 ['RI ----ASM-', 'RI ----NSN-'] 1 ['RI ----ASM-', 'RI ----ASN-', 'RI ----NSN-'] 1 ['RI ----ASF-', 'RI ----ASM-'] 1 ['RI ----ASF-', 'RI ----ASM-', 'RI ----NPN-'] 1 ['RI ----APN-', 'RI ----ASF-', 'RI ----ASM-', 'RI ----NPN-'] 1 ['RI ----APF-', 'RI ----GSF-'] 1 ['RD ----ASM-', 'RD ----ASN-'] 1 ['RA ----NPM-', 'RR ----NPM-'] 1 ['RA ----GSM-', 'RA ----GSN-'] 1 ['RA ----GPF-', 'RA ----GPM-', 'RA ----GPN-'] 1 ['RA ----DSM-', 'RA ----DSN-'] 1 ['RA ----DPM-', 'RA ----DPN-'] 1 ['RA ----ASN-', 'RA ----NSN-'] 1 ['RA ----APN-', 'RA ----NPN-'] 1 ['N- ----NSM-', 'X- --------'] 1 ['N- ----NPF-', 'N- ----NPM-'] 1 ['N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['N- ----GPF-', 'V- -PAPNSM-'] 1 ['N- ----DSN-', 'V- 2PAD-S--'] 1 ['N- ----DSN-', 'N- ----GSN-', 'N- ----NSN-'] 1 ['N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-'] 1 ['N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-', 'N- ----VSM-'] 1 ['N- ----DSF-', 'V- 3APS-S--'] 1 ['N- ----DSF-', 'V- 3AAS-S--'] 1 ['N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----GSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----GSN-'] 1 ['N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----DSN-', 'N- ----GSN-', 'N- ----NSN-'] 1 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----VSM-'] 1 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----DSM-'] 1 ['N- ----ASM-', 'N- ----DSM-', 'N- ----GSM-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'P- --------'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----GSF-', 'N- ----VSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----GSF-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----VSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----NSF-', 'N- ----VSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----DSF-', 'N- ----GSF-'] 1 ['N- ----ASF-', 'N- ----ASN-'] 1 ['N- ----APN-', 'N- ----NPN-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['N- ----APF-', 'N- ----APM-'] 1 ['I- --------', 'V- 1PAS-S--', 'X- --------'] 1 ['D- --------', 'N- ----ASN-'] 1 ['D- --------', 'N- ----ASF-'] 1 ['C- --------', 'D- --------', 'RR ----GSM-', 'RR ----GSN-'] 1 ['C- --------', 'D- --------', 'P- --------'] 1 ['A- ----NSM-', 'RP ----NSM-'] 1 ['A- ----NSM-', 'A- ----VSM-'] 1 ['A- ----NSM-', 'A- ----NSMC'] 1 ['A- ----NSF-', 'RP ----NSF-'] 1 ['A- ----NSF-', 'N- ----NSF-'] 1 ['A- ----NSF-', 'A- ----VSF-'] 1 ['A- ----NSF-', 'A- ----NSM-', 'A- ----VSM-'] 1 ['A- ----NSF-', 'A- ----NSM-', 'A- ----VSF-'] 1 ['A- ----NPMC', 'A- ----VPMC'] 1 ['A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPMC', 'A- ----VPM-'] 1 ['A- ----GSN-', 'RP ----GS--'] 1 ['A- ----GSN-', 'N- ----GSM-'] 1 ['A- ----GSN-', 'D- --------', 'RP ----GSM-', 'RP ----GSN-'] 1 ['A- ----GSF-', 'RP ----GSF-'] 1 ['A- ----GSF-', 'N- ----GSF-'] 1 ['A- ----GSF-', 'A- ----GSN-'] 1 ['A- ----GPN-', 'V- -PAPNSM-'] 1 ['A- ----GPN-', 'RP ----GPF-', 'RP ----GPM-', 'RP ----GPN-'] 1 ['A- ----GPMC', 'A- ----GPNC'] 1 ['A- ----GPM-', 'V- -PAPNSM-'] 1 ['A- ----GPFS', 'A- ----GPMS', 'A- ----GPNS'] 1 ['A- ----DSM-', 'A- ----DSN-', 'RP ----DSM-', 'RP ----DSN-'] 1 ['A- ----DSF-', 'RP ----DSF-'] 1 ['A- ----DSF-', 'N- ----DSF-'] 1 ['A- ----DPN-', 'RP ----DPM-', 'RP ----DPN-'] 1 ['A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----DPMC'] 1 ['A- ----DPF-', 'RP ----DPF-'] 1 ['A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----DPN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASNC', 'V- -PAPASN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASNC', 'D- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASN-', 'P- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASN-', 'N- ----ASN-', 'N- ----NSN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-', 'RP ----ASN-', 'RP ----NSN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-', 'D- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASMC', 'A- ----ASNC', 'A- ----NSNC', 'D- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASM-', 'RP ----ASM-'] 1 ['A- ----ASM-', 'N- ----ASN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-', 'D- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-', 'D- --------'] 1 ['A- ----ASF-', 'RP ----ASF-'] 1 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-'] 1 ['A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----ASM-', 'A- ----ASN-', 'A- ----NSN-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'RP ----APN-', 'RP ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----NPN-', 'A- ----NSF-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----DPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----DPN-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APN-', 'A- ----ASF-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----GPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----GPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPN-', 'A- ----GPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APFC', 'A- ----NPFC', 'A- ----NPMC'] 1 ['A- ----APFC', 'A- ----APMC'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'RP ----APF-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----GPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPF-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----DPN-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPN-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPF-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-'] 1 ['A- ----APF-', 'A- ----APM-', 'A- ----APN-', 'A- ----DPF-', 'A- ----DPM-', 'A- ----GPF-', 'A- ----GPM-', 'A- ----GPN-', 'A- ----NPF-', 'A- ----NPM-', 'A- ----NPN-'] 1 1007

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