Computational analysis of Chinese and English texts with the functional semantic processor and the C-LFG parser

The Functional Semantic Processor (FSP) is a software tool designed to facilitate analysis of Chinese and English texts. Analysis is based principally, but not exclusively on Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG). Lower level syntactic analysis of simple sentences in Chinese is performed by the Chinese-Lexical Functional Grammar (C-LFG) Parser developed in LPA 386 Prolog for Windows. In this paper, we describe the interaction between the C-LFG Parser and those modules comprising the FSP which correspond to clause level analyses for transitivity, theme-rheme and information structures. Each module assembles a partial solution to the larger question of what is the meaning which the text as a whole conveys. The modules are graphically represented as folders in the central component of the FSP called the Analyst's Interface (FSP-AI), developed in Visual Basic. In each folder of the FSP-AI, the user may view and edit a new analysis, or retrieve a previously saved analysis for editing. The FSP-AI is linked by means of OLE automation with Word for Windows (WinWord) which provides all the necessary text-editing functions. Moreover, using Visual Basic's database engine, data entered in fields on folders in the FSP-AI are saved to a Microsoft Access compatible database. Because both the C-LFG Parser and the FSP-AI are Windows applications, although developed with different programming languages, communication between the two is seamless. © 1995 Oxford University Press.