Detection of events by analyzing Detection of events by analyzing antonymsantonyms

Potemkin S.Potemkin S.Philological Faculty Philological Faculty

Moscow State University Moscow State University potemkin@philol.msu.rupotemkin@philol.msu.ru

www.slideshare.net/sergeprim/lookingwww.slideshare.net/sergeprim/looking--foreeventsforeevents--inin--narrative narrative

Plot, Plot, sujetsujet, , fabulafabulaThe sequence of The sequence of eventseventsthat makes up a story that makes up a story (occurring around the main (occurring around the main conflict).conflict).

Five stages of plot Five stages of plot developmentdevelopment

Culmination

OutcomeDevelopment

Exposition

QuestionQuestion

How can one measure the plot How can one measure the plot development?development?

What values should be set on Y axes while What values should be set on Y axes while X axes is time (or the number of the X axes is time (or the number of the sentence from the story beginning)sentence from the story beginning)

Result Result –– the answer (?)the answer (?)

In the real story the curve has a number of In the real story the curve has a number of maximumsmaximums

EventEvent“Character moving across the border “Character moving across the border

of the semantic field” of the semantic field” -- LotmanLotmanEventEvent is the is the transitiontransition from one from one

internally consistent state (of the internally consistent state (of the world and the character) to world and the character) to another internally consistent stateanother internally consistent state

Formal identification of Formal identification of eventsevents

Each state is described by a set of Each state is described by a set of semantic features = a point in the semantic features = a point in the semantic space semantic space

The transition can be specified by a set The transition can be specified by a set of antonyms (rich of antonyms (rich –– poor, healthy poor, healthy –– ill, ill, nice nice –– ugly, young ugly, young –– old, etc.)old, etc.)

The number of pairs of antonyms within The number of pairs of antonyms within the state is small, between the states is the state is small, between the states is largelarge

Counting antonymsCounting antonyms

For each sentence of the story we count For each sentence of the story we count the number of antthe number of ant--pairs, one before and pairs, one before and the other after this sentence. the other after this sentence.

The number of antThe number of ant--pairs is plotted along pairs is plotted along Y axesY axes, , as the function of the sentence as the function of the sentence number (number (XX axes)axes). .

Events in Events in «Душечка»«Душечка»

Analyzing the curveAnalyzing the curve

Find local max.Find local max. Read the corresponding sentenceRead the corresponding sentence Is this really an event?Is this really an event?Move left or right finding the eventMove left or right finding the event Try to adjust the window width Try to adjust the window width

Events in “The Darling”Events in “The Darling”

Seems similar to the original textSeems similar to the original text

Waves and betweenWaves and between

Each wave max is a main event (positive)Each wave max is a main event (positive) Minimum and near is a negative situationMinimum and near is a negative situation Maximum and near is a positive situationMaximum and near is a positive situation

It is interesting to compare with the folk It is interesting to compare with the folk talestales

Events in Events in ««HerzchenHerzchen»»

http://www.slideshare.net/sergeprim/herzchen

3D Picture3D Picture

We have a small set of German anonyms.We have a small set of German anonyms.So we tried to make 3DSo we tried to make 3D

X is sentence numberX is sentence number Y is window widthY is window width Z is antonyms countZ is antonyms count 4 waves corresponding to 4 main events 4 waves corresponding to 4 main events

in in Herzchen’sHerzchen’s life life

Event in Darwin’s biography Event in Darwin’s biography

Darwin’s lifeDarwin’s life

First maximum of the antonyms curve First maximum of the antonyms curve --the boy has left the school. the boy has left the school.

The second is his best achievementThe second is his best achievement The third The third -- he disagree with scholars.he disagree with scholars. The fourth is his work appreciation. The fourth is his work appreciation. The fifth, the maximal one, is connected The fifth, the maximal one, is connected

with his life credo. with his life credo.

ConclusionConclusion

Detecting the events in the narrative Detecting the events in the narrative via counting antonymsvia counting antonyms

Depicting the curve of antonyms as the Depicting the curve of antonyms as the function of sentence number function of sentence number

Analyzing the graph of antonymsAnalyzing the graph of antonyms The event is identified as a local max on The event is identified as a local max on

the graphthe graph

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention