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From: klee@klee.ads.com (Ken Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng
Subject: Re: spatial reference in natural language
Message-ID: <1092@zodiac.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 1-Dec-87 13:02:24 EST
Article-I.D.: zodiac.1092
Posted: Tue Dec  1 13:02:24 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Dec-87 20:49:17 EST
References: <6818@sunybcs.UUCP> <3540002@wdl1.UUCP>
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Reply-To: klee@klee.UUCP (Ken Lee)
Organization: Advanced Decision Systems, Mt. View, CA (415) 941-3912
Lines: 19

I think most people don't really use a formal coordinate system, unless they're
in very unknown territory.  Here in California, directions are commonly given
as "toward {San Francisco, San Jose, LA, San Diego, or other large city}" or
"near exit XXX on Highway YYY".

I used to live in Hawaii and found that the mountain/ocean reference that you
mentioned is rarely used now (except among tourists).  A more common reference
system is to name neighborhoods.  I suppose this is common in other areas with
distinct, deep-rooted neighborhoods (e.g., Boston, New York).

I often hike in the mountains near here.  I could use my compass to determine
bearings, etc., but that's not very useful when there are alot of obsticals.  I
usually determine my directions from a map (oriented north/south), but remember
them as "toward that mountain" or "up the canyon" or "along the river".

Hope this is helpful.

Ken Lee
klee@ads.arpa