Content
Overview
Concepts are the basic unit to enter lexicographic data for GermaNet. Concepts are
described as synsets. Each synset consist of a list of lemmas or lexical units denoting
the lexical realizations of the concept described. Note, that a list of synonyms can
consist of only one element.
There are two types of relations, conceptual relations denote relations that hold
for the full concept, not only for one of its synonyms. Lexical relations hold between
lexical realizations (synonyms, lemmas), one frequent lexical relation is for example
the antonymy.
GermaNet covers all relations which are defined for WordNet®, except for the
'similar to' relation for adjectives, which is replaced by the
hyperonymy/hyponymy relation in GermanNet (see description of
adjectives for details).
Some of them (like 'entails') are used less often in GermaNet, others (like
'cause to') will be used more frequently (see description of verbs for details).
One major difference to WordNet® is that cross-classification
(multiple inheritence) is explicitly allowed in GermaNet and lexicographers are
encouraged to make ample use of it whenever appropriate.
This section is intended to list all the relations together with their definition,
restrictions in use, and notes on the current status of their implementation.
Legend
- Valid Class N: is the relation valid for nouns?
- Valid Class A: is the relation valid for adjectives?
- Valid Class V: is the relation valid for verbs?
Lexical Relations
Synonymy
...
Antonymy
Test (EuroWordNet) for Verbs:
In EuroWordNet antonymy is a relation between variants,
i.e. between elements of the same synset: Synset variant X is an antonym of synset variant Y if X is the opposite of Y.
Test sentences:
| If sth./sb. X-s, he/she/it does not Y.
(If she borrows sth., she does not lend it.)
|
yes |
| If sth./sb. Y-s, he/she/it does not X.
(If she lends sth., she does not borrow it.)
|
yes |
The following conditions have to apply for this relation:
- X and Y share the same hyperonym, thus they are elements of a co-hyponym synset (this prevents, e. g., that verbs like eat and sleep are designated as antonyms).
- There is a hyperonym of X, which is the opposite of a hyperonym of Y.
- Both verbs involve the same participants, which play, however, different roles in the situations (i.e. states, events or processes) that are described by these verbs (example: give and receive are antonyms because the indirect object of give , i.e. the addressee, who is involved in the event, is subject of receive ).
EuroWordNet further assumes a relation called near_antonymy
which applies to entire synsets, i.e. the antonymy relation
holds between all members of the synset. Besides this, the test is the
same as for antonymy (including the three conditions).
Test (EuroWordNet) for Nouns
Antonymy and near_antonymy are also distinguished for nouns. The
test is simpler than for verbs however:
X is an antonym of Y and Y is an antonym of X if the following test sentences apply:
| X and Y are both a kind of Z, but X is the opposite of Y.
(i.e. Z is a hyperonym of X and Y.)
(Love and hate are both a kind of emotion, but love is the opposite of hate.) |
yes |
| Inversion of the above sentence
(Hate and love are both a kind of emotion, but hate is the opposite of love.)
|
yes |
As for verbs, the condition that Z is a hyperonym of both X and Y is
necessary in order to guarantee that the antonymy relation is stated in
a reasonable, competitive denotational range.
Derived From/Pertonymy
This pointer is designed to combine nominalisations with their verbal/adjectival base as well as
deverbal adjectives with their verbal base. In principle all word classes can be interrelated in
either direction as long as this is semantically motivated.
Participle
Similar to the pertonym pointer, the participle pointer connects a derived form with its base.
But in contrast to the above one it is restricted to adjectives with participle form,
which are derived from verbs.
Conceptual Relations
Hyperonymy/Hyponymy
According to EuroWordNet, the "denotation of a hyponym is
never equal to the denotation of a hyperonym, i.e. it must be a proper
subset. There must be multiple co-hyponyms to result in a genuine
hyponomy relation." It is assumed that the hyperonym (more
general) may substitute the hyponym (less general) in a given context,
but not the other way round.
Test (EuroWordNet) for verbs:
Verb synset X is hyponym of verb synset Y and verb synset Y is a hyperonym
of verb synset X if the following test sentences can be answered accordingly:
| X is Y + AdvP/AdjP/NP/PP.
('To run' is 'to go' fast.)
|
yes |
| Y is X + AdvP/AdjP/NP/PP.
('To go' is 'to run' fast.)
|
no |
Test (EuroWordNet) for nouns:
Attention has to be payed, since this test can also be used for
synonymy. Therefore a second test for species, kinds, races, and
brands has been developed.
Test 1 (also for synonymy):
X is a hyponym/synonym of Y and Y is a hyperonym/synonym of X if the following test sentences apply:
| An X is a Y with specific characteristics.
(A car is a vehicle with specific characteristics.)
It is an X and thus also a Y.
(It is a car and thus also a vehicle.)
If it is an X, it has to be also a Y.
(If it is a car...)
|
yes |
| Inversion of the above sentences
(A vehicle is a car with specific characteristics.)
(It is a vehicle and thus also a car.)
(If it is a vehicle ...)
|
no |
Test 2 (for species, kinds, races, and brands):
Note that this test cannot be used for synonymy.
| X is a kind/a type/a race/a species/a brand of Y.
(A car is a kind of vehicle.)
|
yes |
| Inversion of the above sentence
(A vehicle is a kind of car.)
|
no |
Meronymy/Holonymy
This relation in general only applies to concrete nouns which are interpreted generically (EuroWordNet 1996). According to EuroWordNet, part-whole relations come in inverse pairs, i.e. as holonymy and meronymy.
Test (EuroWordNet) :
X has a holonym Y and Y has a meronym X if
| (an) X constitutes a part of (a) Y
(a) Y has (an) X.
|
yes |
| Inversion of the above sentences |
no |
Causation
This pointer indicates the causation relation especially between verbs and adjectives.
See also Semantic Relations between Verbs
Entailment
...
Association
This is a dummy pointer without a clear definition that is best
characterized as "is related to". See also Semantic Relations between Verbs