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On Z-numbers and the Machine-Mind for Natural Language Comprehension

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Fifty Years of Fuzzy Logic and its Applications

Part of the book series: Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing ((STUDFUZZ,volume 326))

Abstract

This article is centred on two themes. The first is the extension of Zadeh’s basic Z-numbers into a tool for level-2 Computing With Words (CWW) and consequently subjective natural language understanding. We describe an algorithm and new operators (leading to complex or spectral Z-numbers), use them to simulate differential diagnosis, and highlight the inherent strengths and challenges of the Z-numbers. The second theme deals with the design of a, Minsky’s Society of Mind based, natural language comprehending machine-mind architecture. We enumerate its macro-components (function modules and memory units) and illustrate its working mechanism through simulation of metaphor understanding; validating system outputs against human-comprehension responses. The framework uses the aforementioned new Z-number paradigm to precisiate knowledge-frames. The completeness of the conceptualized architecture is analyzed through its coverage of mind-layers (Minsky) and cerebral cortex regions. The research described here draws from multiple disciplines and seeks to contribute to the cognitive-systems design initiatives for man-machine symbiosis.

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Acknowledgments

This project is being carried out under the guidance of Professor Sankar K. Pal who is an INAE Chair Professor and J.C. Bose Fellow of the Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Soft Computing Research, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, India

    Romi Banerjee & Sankar K. Pal

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  1. Romi Banerjee
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  2. Sankar K. Pal
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Correspondence to Romi Banerjee .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA

    Dan E. Tamir

  2. School of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Naphtali D. Rishe

  3. School of Computing and Information Sciences, The University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA, and Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Abraham Kandel

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Banerjee, R., Pal, S.K. (2015). On Z-numbers and the Machine-Mind for Natural Language Comprehension. In: Tamir, D., Rishe, N., Kandel, A. (eds) Fifty Years of Fuzzy Logic and its Applications. Studies in Fuzziness and Soft Computing, vol 326. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19683-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19683-1_22

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