Modeling the illocutionary aspects of information-seeking dialogues

• Published in: Information processing & management Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 165 - 180
• Main Authors: Sitter, Stefan, Stein, Adelheit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1992; Elsevier Science; Pergamon Press; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Artificial Intelligence; COGITO; Cognitive aspects; Computational Linguistics; Computerised information retrieval; Computerized information storage and retrieval; Computerized subject indexing; Dialogue Analysis; Discourse Analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Functions; Futures (of Society); Human-computer interaction; Information and communication sciences; Information processing and retrieval; Information retrieval. Man machine relationship; Information science. Documentation; Information Seeking; Information storage and retrieval; Information work; Languages; Rhetorical Structure Theory; Sciences and techniques of general use; Searching; Semantics; Speech Acts; Strategies; Subject indexing; Theory; User behaviour; Discourse; Project; Man machine dialogue; Information retrieval; Man machine relation; Cognition; Models; Verbal communication
• ISSN: 0306-4573; 1873-5371
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-4573(92)90044-Z

A dialogue model is presented that incorporates the illocutionary aspects of information-seeking dialogues. Directive, commissive, and assertive types of dialogue acts (e.g., asking, offering, rejecting, answering, and evaluating) are represented by a complex transition network. The model determines all legitimate types and sequences of dialogue acts and regulates the role assignments (e.g., when the information seeker and the information provider temporarily exchange their roles). Finally, an approach to integrating the illocutionary layer with other layers—which deal with thematical and rhetorical coherence—is outlined. Such an integrated model can serve as a basis for the design of human-computer dialogue systems.