Skip to main content
Log in

A model for intelligent computer assisted language instruction (MICALI)

  • Published:
Computers and the Humanities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the view that Computer Assisted Language Instruction (CALI) software should be developed as a natural language processing system that offers an interactive environment for language learners. A description of Artificial Intelligence tools and techniques, such as parsing, knowledge representation and expert systems is presented. Their capabilities and limitations are discussed and a model for intelligent CALI software (MICALI) is proposed. MICALI is highly interactive and communicative and can initiate conversation with a student or respond to questions on a previously defined domain of knowledge. In the present state of the art, MICALI can only operate in limited parsing and domain-specific knowledge representation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmed, K., G. Corbett, M. Rogers, and R. Sussex. Computers, Language Learning and Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bear, J. and L. Karttunen. “A Simple Phrase Structure Parser.“ Texas Linguistic Forum (Department of Linguistics, The University of Texas at Austin), 15 (1979), 1–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, B. Class, Codes and Control. St. Albans, Herts.: Paladin, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonnet, A. L'intelligence artifcielle: Promesse et réalités. Paris: InterEdition, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Both, J. “Communicative Approaches in Computer Assisted Language Instruction.” Paper presented at the TESOL's 21 st Annual Convention, Miami, Florida, 1987.

  • Chapelle, C. and J. Jamieson. “Computer Assisted Language Learning as a Predictor of Success in Acquiring ESL.” TESOL Quarterly, 20, 1 (1986), 27–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charniak, E. Toward a Model of Children's Story Comprehension. AI TR-226. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, 1972.

  • Chomsky, N. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chomsky, N. Lectures on Government and Binding. Foris, Dordrecht. 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chomsky, N. Barriers. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colmerauer, A. “Un sous-ensemble intéressant du français.” Paper presented at the Workshop on Logic and Databases, Toulouse, 1979.

  • Evans, R. ProGram: a Development Tool for GPSG Grammars. CSRP 036. The University of Sussex, U.K., 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, R. and G. Gazdar. The ProGram Manual. CSRP 035. The University of Sussex, U.K., 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farghaly, A. and B. Brownsfield. “Towards More Intelligent Software.” In Proceedings of the First National Symposium on Language Teaching in Kuwait. Language Center, Kuwait University, 1985, pp. 32–51.

  • Granger, R. H. The NOMAD System: Expectation-Based Detection and Correction of Errors during Understanding of Syntactically and Semanticlly Ill-Formed Text. American Journal of Computational Linguistics, 7 (1983), 99–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grishman, Ralph. Computational Linguistics: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grishman, R. and Ping Peng. “Responding to Semantically Ill-Formed Input” In Proceedings of the Second Conference on Applied Natural Language Processing. Austin, TX, 1988.

  • Hayes-Roth, F., D. Waterman, and D. Lenat. ed.

  • Higgins, J. and T. Johns. Computers in Language Learning. Reading, MA: Addison Wesley, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill, B. “Interactive Video in the Teaching of English.” Paper presented at the TESOL's 21 st Annual Convention, Miami, Florida, 1987.

  • Hope, G. R., H. F. Taylor, and J. P. Pusack. Using Computers in Teaching Foreign Languages. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

  • Jensen, K., G. Heidron, S. Richardson, and N. Haas. “PLNLP, PEG and CRITIQUE: Three Contributions to Computing in the Humanities.” Paper presented at the Conference on Computers and the Humanities, Toronto, Canada, 1986.

  • Hobbs, J. R. “Resolving Pronoun References.” In Natural Language Processing. Eds. Barbara Grosz et al. Inc. Los Altos, CA: Morgan Kaufman, 1986, pp. 339–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, Brett. “Essential Idioms in English: A Review.” CALL-IS Newsletter (Published by TESOL), 4 (December 1987).

  • Jones, C. and S. Fortescue. Using Computers in the Language Classroom. New York: Longman, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karttunen, Lauri and Arnold Zwicky. “Introduction.” In Natural Language Parsing. Eds. D. R. Dowty, L. Karttunen, and A. Zwicky. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 1–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kay, Martin. “Parsing in Functional Unification Grammar.” In Natural Language Parsing. Eds. D. R. Dowty, L. Karttunen, and A. Zwicky. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985, pp. 251–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelso, S., B. Tuller, and K. Harris. “A ‘Dynamic Pattern’ Perspective on the Control and Coordination of Movement.” In The Production of Speech. Ed. Peter MacNeilage. New York: Springer-Verlag, 1983, 137–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlsen-Wilson, W. Linguistic Structure and Speech Shadowing at Very Short Latencies. Nature, 244 (1973), 522–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marlsen-Wilson, W. Sentence Perception as an Interactive Parallel Process. Science, 189 (1975), 226–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyne, John A. “Language Use: A Performance Model.” International Journal of Computer and Information Sciences, 9 (1980), 459–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyne, John, A. Understanding Language: Man or Machine. New York: Plenum Press, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, F. Logic For Natural Language. Technical Report 275. Artificial Intelligence Center, SRI International, 1983.

  • Perkins, K. and B. Jones, “Measuring Passage Contribution in ESL Reading Comprehension.” TESOL Quarterly, 19, 1 (1985), 137–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phinney, M. “Writing and Revising with Computers in ESL Composition.” Paper presented at TESOL's 21st Annual Convention, Miami, Florida, 1987.

  • Rich, E. and S. LuperFoy. “An Architecture for Anaphora Resolution.” In Proceedings of the Second Conference on Applied Natural Language Processing. ACL, Austin, TX 1988, pp. 18–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, S. and Lisa Braden-Harder. “The Experience of Developing a Large Scale Language Text Processing System: CRITIQUE.” In Proceedings of the Second Conference on Applied Natural Language Processing. ACL, Austin, Texas, 1988, pp. 195–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schank, R. “Conceptual Dependency: A Theory of Natural Language Understanding.” Cognitive Psychology, 3, 4 (1972), 552–631.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schank, R., ed. Conceptual Information Processing. Amsterdam: North Holland, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schank, R. “Intelligent Advisory Systems.” In The AI Business. Eds. P. Winston and K. Prendergast. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1984, pp. 133–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slocum, J. “Parser Construction Techniques.” Tutorial presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, 1985.

  • Stevens, V. “English Lessons on PLATO: A Review.” TESOL Quarterly, 17, 2 (1983), 293–300.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens, V. and Emily Thrush. “Use of the Computer Now and in the Future for ESL.” Paper presented at the Software Evaluation Workshop, TESOL's 21st Annual Convention, Miami, Florida, 1987.

  • The, L. “Educational Software for the Home.” Display Structure, 6 (1982), 48–52, 102–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, J. H. Linguistics, Computers and the Language Teacher. Rowley, MA: Newbury House, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilks, Y. “Preference Semantics.” In Formal Semantics of Natural Languages. Ed. E. Keenan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T. Understanding Natural Language. New York: Academic Press, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T. Language as a Cognitive System. Volume I: Syntax. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winston, P. H. and B. K. P. Horn. LISP. 2nd Edition. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Ali Farghaly received his Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981. He joined the University of Alexandria, Egypt, the same year. In 1983, he worked as an Arabic computational linguist at Omnitrans of California. Currently, he is an assistant professor of General and Computational Linguistics at Kuwait University. He has published several papers in Arabic and English on Artificial Intelligence and Computational Linguistics. His research interests include Computer Assisted Language Instruction, natural language understanding, and machine translation.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Farghaly, A. A model for intelligent computer assisted language instruction (MICALI). Comput Hum 23, 235–250 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056146

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00056146

Key Words

Navigation