Syllabus
Southern
Department
of Computer Science
CS582
Special Topics in Computer Science (Computational Linguistics)
CRN
3141
Fall
Quarter 2005
Prerequisite:
Computer Science Graduate Student
Instructor Information
Instructor: Dan Harvey
Room:
Phone: 552-6149, extension 2-6149
E-mail: harveyd@sou.edu
Office Hours: Monday
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Web Site: www.sou.edu/cs/harvey
The web
site is available for the midterm results, weekly handouts, current grade
status, and contact with class members. Click on the appropriate class, and
then select the desired option.
Class Times
Monday, Wednesday (CS 224)
Course Text
Jurafsky
and Martin, Prentice Hall,
(2000),
ISBN 0-13-095069-6
Course Description
This
class introduces students to the emerging field of Computational Linguistics.
This field of study includes areas of speech recognition, speech synthesis, automated
grammar checking, automated spell checking, automated language translation, and
language acquisition aids. Some of the topics that we will discuss are computer
phonetic alphabets, dynamic programming techniques, finite state automoton methods, neural networks, fast fourier analysis, and Chomsky
grammars. We will also work to enhance the ACORNS language
acquisition software package.
Objectives
Upon
completion of this course, students will have a good introduction to
Computational Linguistics. They will contribute to enhancing the ACORNS
software package, and have an understanding of some of the major algorithms
used in this field.
This schedule may change
depending on the pace of the class
Week Topic
1 Introduction to Computational Linguistics
Acorns Linguistics Software
2 Phonetics
3 Fast Fourier analysis, First
Presentations
4
5 Bayesian Method, Second Presentations
6 Dynamic Programming, Student Project
Design Specification
7 Markov Chains, Hidden Markov Model (HMM),
Third Presentations
8 Chomsky Grammars
9 Midterm Examination
10 Other Linguistics Topics
11 Student
Project Presentations
Course
Grading
There will be three student presentations. Each of these presentations
will require students to investigate a linguistic topic and give a presentation
of his findings. Students will write a short technical paper describing his
presentation. Each presentation will count for ten percent of the final grade.
Student presentations will total to thirty percent of the final grade. Each
presentation will be graded on a 25 point scale.
Each student will pick an area of functionality to add to the ACORNS
language acquisition software. This quarter long project will count for
thirty-five percent of the final grade. Students must prepare a detailed design
specification that will be due in week six of the quarter. The final software
and presentation is due during finals week. A final technical paper will
describe the project in detail. The quality of the design specification, the
final technical paper, how well the software works, and the presentation
determine the project grade.
Students will take a midterm examination in week nine of the quarter.
This examination contributes thirty-five percent towards the final grade.
Optional lab assignments will be graded on a 10 point scale. These points can
be applied to quiz scores, to missed labs, or to the final exam score.
Grade
Breakdown: 93-100% A 90-92% A-
88-89% B+
82-87 B 80-81% B-
78-79% C+
72-77 C 70-71% C-
68-69% D+
62-67 D 60-61% D-
Under 60 F
Disabilities
If you are in need of academic
support because of a documented disability (whether it be learning, mobility,
psychiatric, health-related, or sensory) you may be eligible for academic or
other accommodations through Disability Services for Students. Contact
Disability Services for Students; Director DSS
552-6213, or schedule an appointment in person at the