Ling 472/CSE 472: Introduction to Computational Linguistics
Spring 2012

Course Info

• Lecture: MW 1:30-2:50, LOW 102
• Section: F 1:30-2:20, MGH 242
• Textbook: Jurafsky & Martin 2009 Speech and Language Processing (Errata for the textbook), plus excerpts from Beesley & Karttunen 2003 Finite State Morphology, made available through the Canvas.
• Canvas: course management system
• Lab space: PCs loaded with the software used in class are available for student use in the Linguistics Treehouse (compling lab: Padelford B-202A).
  For access, you will need to take your Husky card to David Brodbeck (Padelford B-5-L). Contact David at: linghelp at uw.
  Request an account on the lab machines/server cluster.
  If your browser gives you a certificate warning, you need to install the UW root certificate.
• Software, for those who wish to install it at home.

Instructor Info

Syllabus

Description

Goals: By the end of this course, you will:

• Be familiar with computational linguistic tools and resources, and how they are applied in research in both computational linguistics and other subfields
• Have a rough sense of the state of the art in this subfield
• Be able to conceptualize problems from the perspective of computational linguistics

Computational linguistics is a broad field incorporating research and techniques for processing language with computers at all levels of linguistic structure. Students are expected to have a background in either computer science or linguistics, but not necessarily both. Expect this class to be difficult at times and easy at others. We hope to offer something new and interesting for everyone.

Note: To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, 206-543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to the instructor so we can discuss the accommodations you might need in this class.

Requirements

Students are expected to complete the assigned readings before each lecture. Lecture and lab will connect with the readings, but not everything in the readings will be covered in lecture. Homework assignments and exams may nonetheless cover material in the readings not gone over in class.

Late homework policy: Unless prior arrangements are made, homework turned in late but within 24 hours of the deadline will be graded at 80% credit, homework turned between 24 and 48 hours will be graded at 70% credit, and homework turned in later than that will not be graded. No late final projects will be accepted.

Grades will be based on homework assignments (45%), the midterm (20%) and the final project (30%), and course participation (5%, including 2% for the twitter assignment).

Schedule of Topics and Assignments (May be updated)