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A Linguistics-Based Framework for Modeling Spatio-temporal Occurrences and Purposive Change

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Spatial Information Theory (COSIT 2005)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNISA,volume 3693))

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Abstract

We present a linguistics-based approach for modeling spatio-temporal change and in particular, purposive change, as in the change in land uses. We extend Talmy’s theory of force dynamics in language by means of the Aristotelian distinction between constitutive, agentive, and telic dimensions in things, to derive a framework for describing different kinds of occurrences and changes, both purposive and not. The framework, which can span any number of spatio-temporal scales and granularities, may be seen as a tentative ontology of change that highlights the role of goal-directed action. We illustrate our argument by means of excerpts from a historic text detailing a cattle-ranching operation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA

    Jeff T. Howarth & Helen Couclelis

Authors
  1. Jeff T. Howarth
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  2. Helen Couclelis
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Computing, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, United Kingdom

    Anthony G. Cohn

  2. Department of Geography, State University of New York at Buffalo, 105 Wilkeson Quad, 14261, Buffalo, NY, USA

    David M. Mark

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Howarth, J.T., Couclelis, H. (2005). A Linguistics-Based Framework for Modeling Spatio-temporal Occurrences and Purposive Change. In: Cohn, A.G., Mark, D.M. (eds) Spatial Information Theory. COSIT 2005. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 3693. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/11556114_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/11556114_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-28964-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-32020-3

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