Interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill

Interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill development Applied Computing, University of Dundee Annalu Waller Dave O’Mara Informatics, University of Edinburgh Graeme Ritchie Helen Pain Ruli Manurung also: Alistair Low, Lucia Trujillo-Dennis

Outline n n Motivation STANDUP project JAPE Two extensions to JAPE ¨ Low (2003) ¨ Trujillo-Dennis (2003) n n STANDUP revisited Summary

Humour and language impaired children n n Use of humour enhances children’s linguistic & conversational skills, social interaction (Waller et al 2001) Language-impaired children (LIC) have limited opportunities for language-play & humour Thus, LIC have significantly poorer comprehension of humour Understanding of humour from LIC aged 13 -15 working on 5 -7 curriculum (O’Mara et al 2002) This suggests that LIC have ability to use jokes – if more accessible

STANDUP Project Build support tool that enables LIC to experience language play (through humour) n Current LIC tools are primarily functional, focusing on needs-based communication n Existing computer based tools: text prediction, improving syntax, second language learning, discussion skills n

Automated humour n JAPE (Binsted & Ritchie 1994, 1997) is capable of producing punning riddles such as: What’s the difference between leaves and a car? One you brush and rake, the other you rush and brake. ¨ What do you get when you cross a monkey and a peach? An ape-ricot. ¨ What do you call a murderer with fibre? A cereal killer. ¨ n It searches a general purpose dictionary to find words that fit pre-defined structures called schemas and templates.

JAPE: Example What do you call a strange market ?

JAPE: Example What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar.

JAPE: Example What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar. homophone

JAPE: Example What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone

JAPE: Example synonym What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone

JAPE: Example synonym What do you call a strange market ? describes A bizarre bazaar. homophone synonym

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: homophone A B synonym C D TEMPLATE: What do you call a C D ? A A B .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bizarre homophone synonym TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bizarre homophone bazaar synonym TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bizarre homophone bazaar synonym strange TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bizarre homophone bazaar synonym strange synonym market TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bizarre homophone bazaar synonym strange market TEMPLATE: What do you call a strange market ? A bizarre bazaar .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bare homophone synonym TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bare homophone bear synonym TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bare homophone bear synonym nude TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bare homophone bear synonym nude synonym animal TEMPLATE: What do you call a ? A .

JAPE: How it works SCHEMA: bare homophone bear synonym nude animal TEMPLATE: What do you call a nude animal ? A bare bear .

JAPE (cont. ) Suitable joke experts found JAPE’s better jokes comparably funny to those in children’s joke books (Binsted et al. 1997) n Limitations: n ¨ Slow – tries out all the words in the dictionary! ¨ Unguidable mechanism – exhaustive search n How do we adapt this for interactive usage?

Extensions to JAPE (1) n Low (2003) developed a graphical user interface (GUI) for JAPE, with added functionality: ¨ Creating jokes ¨ Riddle-solving ¨ Joke library ¨ Topic database ¨ Lexical support n Still slow, interface fairly complex

Added functionality Interactivity

Customizability

Extensions to JAPE (2) n Trujillo-Dennis (2003) developed UI for ¨ children with speech impairments ¨ (possibly) motor disabilities ¨ no cognitive disabilities n Explores several aspects of the user interface: ¨ Simple language and visual layout ¨ Adaptable colour schemes ¨ Speech output ¨ Single switch scanning interface n Not tested on actual target users

Accessibility (scanning interface)

STANDUP Revisited n n n To build a tool that aids LIC in creating jokes Interactive: speed, efficiency Customizable: extensible User-centred design for LIC-specific interface Appropriateness: What do you get when you cross a vitellus and a saddlery? A yolk yoke. What do you call a capable seed? An able semen.

Summary Humour enhances children’s conversation and social interaction n Support LIC with wordplay software n Starting point: JAPE, various extensions n Interactivity and customizability n User-centred design n email: ruli. manurung@ed. ac. uk