Ling 472/CSE 472: Introduction to Computational Linguistics
Spring 2017

Course Info

• Lecture: TR 1:30-2:50, SAV 139
• Section: F 1:30-2:20, EEB 026
• Textbook: Jurafsky & Martin 2009 Speech and Language Processing (Errata for the textbook), plus excerpts from Beesley & Karttunen 2003 Finite State Morphology, made available through Canvas, and other readings linked below.
• Optional additional text: Bender 2013 Linguistic Fundamentals for Natural Language Processing [NB: Free to UW students; download from on campus or with UW Libraries proxy bookmarklet].
• 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: Guggenheim 419-A).
  Access is provided to those who create accounts on Patas. If you have questions, please contact Brandon Graves 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.

Most if not all homework assignments and the final project will include a significant writing component, weight at or near 1/2 of the assignment grade. Be sure to save time to do a careful job on your write up.

We expect all write ups to be turned in as pdf files, even if they started as plain text files that we gave you.

Collaboration policy: Students are encouraged to work with each other on the homework, both in small groups and by posting & answering questions on Canvas. However, each student must turn in their own answers (both code and write up). No copying or sharing code or prose is allowed. Also, students who have collaborated must acknowledge the collaboration in their write ups (e.g. "I discussed this problem with Kim Smith/with classmates on Canvas as we were working on it.").

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%)
• the final project (30%)
• Reading questions (5%)
• up to 2% (positive) adjustment for
  1. extra credit points for asking original clarification questions on homework assignments
  2. in class participation
  3. other on-line participation

Schedule of Topics and Assignments (May be updated)

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