300 likes | 455 Views
Interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill development. Applied Computing, University of Dundee Annalu Waller Dave O’Mara Informatics, University of Edinburgh Graeme Ritchie Helen Pain Ruli Manurung. also: Alistair Low, Lucia Trujillo-Dennis. Outline. Motivation
E N D
Interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill development Applied Computing, University of DundeeAnnalu WallerDave O’Mara Informatics, University of EdinburghGraeme RitchieHelen PainRuli Manurung also: Alistair Low, Lucia Trujillo-Dennis
Outline • Motivation • STANDUP project • JAPE • Two extensions to JAPE • Low (2003) • Trujillo-Dennis (2003) • STANDUP revisited • Summary
Humour and language impaired children • Use of humour enhances children’s linguistic & conversational skills, social interaction (Waller et al 2001) • Language-impaired children (LIC) have limited opportunities for language-play & humour • Thus, LIC have significantly poorer comprehension of humour • Understanding of humour from LIC aged 13-15 working on 5-7 curriculum (O’Mara et al 2002) • This suggests that LIC have ability to use jokes – if more accessible
STANDUP Project • Build support tool that enables LIC to experience language play (through humour) • Current LIC tools are primarily functional, focusing on needs-based communication • Existing computer based tools: text prediction, improving syntax, second language learning, discussion skills
Automated humour • JAPE (Binsted & Ritchie 1994, 1997) is capable of producing punning riddles such as: • What’s the difference between leaves and a car? One you brush and rake, the other you rush and brake. • What do you get when you cross a monkey and a peach? An ape-ricot. • What do you call a murderer with fibre? A cereal killer. • It searches a general purpose dictionary to find words that fit pre-defined structures called schemas and templates.
JAPE:Example What do you call a strange market ?
JAPE:Example What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar.
JAPE:Example What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar. homophone
JAPE:Example What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone
JAPE:Example synonym What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone
JAPE:Example synonym What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone synonym
What do you call a C D ? A A B . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone A B synonym synonym C D TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bizarre synonym synonym TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bizarre bazaar synonym synonym TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bizarre bazaar synonym synonym strange TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bizarre bazaar synonym synonym strange market TEMPLATE:
What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bizarre bazaar synonym synonym strange market TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bare synonym synonym TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bare bear synonym synonym TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bare bear synonym synonym nude TEMPLATE:
What do you call a ? A . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bare bear synonym synonym nude animal TEMPLATE:
What do you call a nude animal ? A bare bear . JAPE:How it works SCHEMA: homophone bare bear synonym synonym nude animal TEMPLATE:
JAPE (cont.) • Suitable joke experts found JAPE’s better jokes comparably funny to those in children’s joke books (Binsted et al. 1997) • Limitations: • Slow – tries out all the words in the dictionary! • Unguidable mechanism – exhaustive search • How do we adapt this for interactive usage?
Extensions to JAPE (1) • Low (2003) developed a graphical user interface (GUI) for JAPE, with added functionality: • Creating jokes • Riddle-solving • Joke library • Topic database • Lexical support • Still slow, interface fairly complex
Added functionality Interactivity
Extensions to JAPE (2) • Trujillo-Dennis (2003) developed UI for • children with speech impairments • (possibly) motor disabilities • no cognitive disabilities • Explores several aspects of the user interface: • Simple language and visual layout • Adaptable colour schemes • Speech output • Single switch scanning interface • Not tested on actual target users
STANDUP Revisited • To build a tool that aids LIC in creating jokes • Interactive: speed, efficiency • Customizable: extensible • User-centred design for LIC-specific interface • Appropriateness: What do you get when you cross a vitellus and a saddlery? A yolk yoke. What do you call a capable seed? An able semen.
Summary • Humour enhances children’s conversation and social interaction • Support LIC with wordplay software • Starting point: JAPE, various extensions • Interactivity and customizability • User-centred design email: ruli.manurung@ed.ac.uk