Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!hao!boulder!sunybcs!dmark From: dmark@cs.buffalo.EDU (David Mark) Newsgroups: comp.cog-eng Subject: spatial reference in natural language Message-ID: <6818@sunybcs.UUCP> Date: Fri, 27-Nov-87 19:52:59 EST Article-I.D.: sunybcs.6818 Posted: Fri Nov 27 19:52:59 1987 Date-Received: Mon, 30-Nov-87 00:20:10 EST Sender: nobody@sunybcs.UUCP Reply-To: dmark@sunybcs.UUCP (David Mark) Organization: SUNY/Buffalo Cognitive Science group Lines: 49 Keywords: spatial language, reference frames HOW TO TELL WHICH WAY IS "UP" David M. Mark, David Zubin, and Soteria Svorou Cognitive Science Group, SUNY at Buffalo _______________________________________________________________________ A group of us in the Cognitive Science group at SUNY at Buffalo are interested in spatial reference in natural language. Among the many applications are automated navigation-aids for car drivers, and natural-langauge interfaces for geographic information systems. One aspect of this topic involves the use of terms such as "up", "down", "over", "out", "back", etc., in direction-giving and other spatial language. Reference frames are important aspects of spatial language. Many of us are used to a cartesian reference frame consisting of two orthogonal coordinate axes. However, in Hawaii and some other Pacific Island, a polar coordinate system or radial grid is used, with one funamental direction being the 'in-out' or 'seaward-mountainward' axis, and the other being along the shoreline in one direction or the other. Also, while there appears to be a tendency to use "up" for north and "down" for south, there are many exceptions. Some of these exceptions seem to relate to: hills, escarpments, and other topographic elevation changes; river flow directions; social gradients; wind directions (?); and perhaps others. We would be interested in examples of the use of non-cartesian coordinate systems for specifying directions, and also of uses of "up", "down", and other such terms in direction-giving and spatial reference. Please be sure to include as much of the following information as possible: language of the 'informant' or situation; exact location of the situation described; if possible, whether the 'informant' was a newcomer or a long-time resident of the area referred to. We will send a summary to all contributors, and summarize to the net if there is interest. Of course, we would like to hear from others working on the topic. David M. Mark, Professor Department of Geography, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260 (716) 636-2283 uucp: ..!{allegra,decvax,watmath,rocksanne}!sunybcs!dmark csnet: dmark@buffalo.csnet internet: dmark@joey.cs.buffalo.edu bitnet: GEODMM@UBVMS.BITNET