The UNL Program A program created by the United Nations University / Institute of Advanced Studies Now carried out by the UNDL Foundation

Distinctive features UNL is designed for multilingual information services, not for MT. Distinctive characteristics: Open technology. Patents held by UN Open technology. Patents held by UN Internet based. Internet based. UNL docs are re-usable. Draft first, refine later. UNL docs are re-usable. Draft first, refine later. UNL docs are upgradable as better generators are developed. UNL docs are upgradable as better generators are developed. UNL system is scalable to new languages. UNL system is scalable to new languages.

UNL Philosophy Internet French People Hindi People Spanish People Chinese People French Chinese Spanish UNL System Hindi

UNL System Document Base Base UNL Document Base French Generator Hindi Generator Spanish Generator Chinese Generator Other language Generator

UNL Architecture Text in natural language Analyzer UNL Dictionary Dictionary UNLDocumentBase LanguageGenerator Generated documents UNL Editor Language Server

UNL as an interlingua (1/4) UNL is a partially formalised, artificial language for expressing informational content in a language- independent way. UNL is a partially formalised, artificial language for expressing informational content in a language- independent way. Essential components of this language are: Essential components of this language are: Universal words (UWs): They represent concepts valid in all languages. Universal words (UWs): They represent concepts valid in all languages. Attributes : Modify the meaning of the UWs Attributes : Modify the meaning of the UWs Relations: Express the semantic relation between two UWs. Relations: Express the semantic relation between two UWs.

UNL as an interlingua (2/4) Universal Words composed by: 1.Basic UW: It is an English “headword” (for practical reasons) (e.g.: snow) 2.Restrictions: They perform a more accurate semantic definition of the UW. {e.g.: cat (icl>animal) or snow(icl>thing) vs. snow(icl>occur) } snow nieve snow Schnee neige

UNL as an interlingua (3/4) Attributes: modifiers of the UW meanings number number (singular or plural); reference reference (definite or indefinite); time and aspect;time and aspect; epistemic and deontic modalities;epistemic and deontic modalities; pragmatic intentions; pragmatic intentions; etc... etc...

UNL as an interlingua (4/4) Conceptual Relations Semantic relations between UWs Semantic relations between UWs 41 conceptual relations, grouped into 8 families 41 conceptual relations, grouped into 8 families Example: “the storm broke the windows” Example: “the storm broke the windows” storm storm break break window window obj agt

How to write a document in UNL? UNL EDITOR Language Rules Enconverter Language/UNLDictionary Texts in UNL Cat Chat Gato cat(icl>animal) [S] I) yesterday) [/S] Yesterday I ran in the street. Hier, Je courais dans la rue. Ayer yo corría en la calle

UNL Organization (1/2) Initially promoted by the United Nations University (UNU/IAS) (Tokyo) Initially promoted by the United Nations University (UNU/IAS) (Tokyo) Fourteen languages involved. Fourteen languages involved. In 2000 the UNU/IAS decided to create an independent organization to be in charge of the UNL Program. In 2000 the UNU/IAS decided to create an independent organization to be in charge of the UNL Program. In 2001 the UNDL Foundation has started its activities (Geneva) In 2001 the UNDL Foundation has started its activities (Geneva)

UNL Organization (2/2) UNDL Foundation UNL Center UNL System Specifications Specifications UW Dictionary UW Dictionary Knowledge Base Knowledge Base Architecture Architecture UNL Society Individuals Individuals Corporations Corporations Institutions Institutions Free membership for R&D activities Free membership for R&D activities Language Centers 12 at the moment 12 at the moment Maintenance Promotion Co-ordination