Organisation profile: Gõteborg University, Educational Programme in Computational Linguistics

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Computational Linguistics (CL) is an area of inquiry in which
computational models of linguistic knowledge are investigated. The
precise definition of CL is a controversial issue. Some work suggests
that it is a branch of linguistics in which computational models play
a role in theoretical or empirical investigations. Computer
implementation may be a way of testing formal models of linguistic
competence and performance. Computerized linguistic analysis is also
used in empirical investigations of corpora (collections of texts or
conversations). CL also has a more engineering-oriented aspect.
Computational models of language may be designed to serve practical
purposes. The aim is consequently to develop systems that can handle
language in `intelligent' ways, e.g.
More or less automatic translation of text Interfaces in natural
language Information retrieval Voice-controlled home electronics
Speech synthesis Systems able to find (and correct) errors of
spelling, grammar, or even argumentation Computer-assisted tutoring

The differences between linguistic investigations and ``language
engineering'' should not be exaggerated. The Göteborg CL programme is
intended to cover both aspects, theoretical CL as well as language
technology.