frprep 0.0.1.prealpha

data/lib/frprep/Tiger.rb

@@ -0,0 +1,1448 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+require "frprep/headz"
+require "frprep/SalsaTigerRegXML"
+require "frprep/ruby_class_extensions"
+class Array
+  include EnumerableDistribute
+end
+
+
+require "frprep/AbstractSynInterface"
+
+#############################################
+#
+# max. projection:
+#
+# consists of methods that are 'building blocks' for computing
+# the maximum projection of a verb in TIGER syntax
+#
+# basically, computing the max. projection is about moving an
+# upper node upward. At the beginning it is the parent of the 
+# terminal node for the verb, and each building block moves it up
+# to its parent, if the building block matches. 
+#
+# Apart from the upper node, a lower node is also watched. At the 
+# beginning it is the terminal node for the verb, later it is usually
+# the 'HD' child of the upper node. This lower node is needed for
+# testing whether a building block matches. 
+#
+# For handling conjunction, the upper node is split into two, a 'lower upper' 
+# and an 'upper upper' node. The 'lower upper' is used when some relation
+# between the upper node and its descendants is tested, and the 'upper upper'
+# is used when some relation between the upper node and its predecessors
+# is tested. Usually the 'lower upper' and the 'upper upper' are the same,
+# but conjunction building blocks move the 'upper upper' up to its parent
+# while leaving the 'lower upper' unchanged.
+#
+# So all building block methods take three arguments: lower, upper_l and
+# upper_u. All three are nodes given as SalsaTigerSentence objects
+#
+# All building block methods give as their return value a list of three 
+# nodes: [new_lower, new_upper_l, new_upper_u], if the building block 
+# matched. If it does not match, nil is returned.
+#
+# The method explain describes all building blocks, 
+# the conditions for the building blocks matching, and shows
+# where the lower and the upper nodes will be after a building block matched. 
+#
+# building blocks:
+#  pp_pp
+#  pp_fin
+#  inf_fin
+#  vzinf_fin
+#  cvzinf_fin
+#  modal
+#  othermodal
+#  conj
+#
+# To compute the maximal projection of a verb,
+# we start at the parent of the terminal node for the verb
+# "and move upwards.
+# "The move upwards is broken up in little building blocks."
+# "Each of them licenses one step upward in the syntactic tree."
+#
+# "Each building block needs information about two nodes:"
+# "The current upper node (at the beginning, that is"
+# "the parent of the terminal node for the verb) and"
+# "one specific child of that current upper node"
+# "(at the beginning, that is the terminal node for the verb)."
+#
+# "Each building block provides information of"
+# "- where the new upper node is, depending on the current"
+# "  upper node, and"
+# "- where the new specific child is."
+#
+# "For handling conjunction, we need to complicate this picture somewhat:"
+# "We split the current upper node into an 'upper upper'"
+# "and a 'lower upper' node."
+# "If we want to check the edge from the current upper node upwards,"
+# "we use the 'upper upper'."
+# "If we want to check an edge from the current upper node downwards,"
+# "we use the 'lower upper'."
+# "Almost always, the 'lower upper' and the 'upper upper' will be the same."
+# "Except for the building block for conjunction:"
+# "It moves the 'upper upper' one level up,"
+# "but leaves the 'lower upper' the same."
+# 
+# "There are five levels of building blocks."
+#
+# "* 1st level: auxiliary verb constructions involving a participle"
+# " The following building blocks are tried, in this order:"
+# " CONJ, PP-PP, CONJ, PP_FIN"
+#
+# "* 2nd level: infinitive constructions"
+# " The following building blocks are tried, in this order:"
+# " CONJ, INF-FIN, VZINF-FIN, CVZINF-FIN"
+#
+# "* 3rd level: modals"
+# " The following building blocks are tried, in this order:"
+# " CONJ, MODAL, OTHERMODAL"
+#
+# "* 4th level = 1st level"
+#
+# "* 5th level = 2nd level"
+#
+#
+# "***These are the building blocks:"
+# 
+# "PP-PP"
+# "             VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC"
+# "        HD/  |   VP|CVP (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |    |"
+# "        o    FE   |HD|CJ"
+# "POS: V[AMV]PP     |"
+# " new target     current target"
+# "                  POS: V[AMV]PP"
+# 
+# "PP-FIN"
+# "             S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC or PD"
+# "        HD/  |   VP|CVP|CO (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |    |"
+# "        o    FE   |HD|CJ"
+# "POS: V[AMV]FIN    |"
+# "     V[AMV]INF  current target"
+# "or CAT: VZ        POS: V[AMV]PP"
+# 
+# "INF_FIN"
+# "             S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC"
+# "        HD/  |   VP|CVP (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |    |"
+# "        o    FE   |HD|CJ"
+# "POS: VAFIN        |"
+# "     VAINF       current target"
+# "     VVINF        POS: V[AMV]INF"
+# "    new target"
+#
+# "VZINF-FIN"
+# "             S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC"
+# "        HD/  |   VP (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |    |"
+# "        o    FE   |HD"
+# "POS: V[AV]FIN     |"
+# "   new target    current target"
+# "                  CAT: VZ"
+#
+# "CVZINF-FIN"
+# " S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# " | \\OC"
+# " |   CVP (current uppermost node)"
+# " |    |"
+# " FE   |CJ"
+# "      |"
+# "     current and new target"
+# "     CAT: VZ"
+#
+# "MODAL"
+# "             S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC"
+# "        HD/  |   VP|CVP (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |    |"
+# "        o    FE   |HD|CJ"
+# "      POS:        |"
+# "  VM(PP|FIN|INF)  current target"
+# "   new target     POS: V[AMV]INF"
+# 
+# "OTHERMODAL"
+# "             S/VP (new uppermost node)"
+# "           / | \\OC"
+# "        HD/  |   VP (current uppermost node)"
+# "         /   |   | \\"
+# "        o    FE  |HD \\OC"
+# "POS: VMFIN       |    \\"
+# "     VMINF      POS:    current target"
+# "     VMPP     V[AMV]INF   POS: V[AMV]PP"
+# "  new target  V[AMV]FIN"
+#
+# "CONJ"
+# "  CVP (new upper uppermost node)"
+# "   | \\CJ"
+# "   |   VP (current and new uppermost node)"
+# "   |    |"
+# "   FE   |"
+# "        |"
+# "   current and new target"
+###
+module TigerMaxProjection
+
+  def max_projection(node)
+    parent = node.parent
+    # node has no parent? recover somehow
+    if parent.nil?
+      return {'max_proj' => node,
+              'max_proj_at_level' => [node]}
+    end
+
+    maxproj_at_level = Array.new
+    maxproj_at_level << parent
+
+    lower = node
+    upper_u = upper_l = parent
+    
+    lower, upper_l, upper_u = project_participle(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    maxproj_at_level << upper_u
+
+    lower, upper_l, upper_u = project_infinitive(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    maxproj_at_level << upper_u
+
+    lower, upper_l, upper_u = project_modal(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    maxproj_at_level << upper_u
+
+    lower, upper_l, upper_u = project_participle(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    maxproj_at_level << upper_u
+
+    lower, upper_l, upper_u = project_infinitive(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    maxproj_at_level << upper_u
+
+    return {'max_proj' => upper_u,
+            'max_proj_at_level' => maxproj_at_level}
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  def test_localtrees(path)
+
+
+#HIER WEITER: was genau passiert hier?
+
+
+    retv = Hash.new
+
+    # test each step
+    path.each { |step|
+      retv = test_step(step, retv)
+      
+      if retv.nil?
+	return nil
+      end
+    }
+
+    # return result of last step
+    return retv
+  end
+
+  ######
+  private
+
+  ###
+  def test_step(path, previous)
+    if path['from'].nil? or path['to'].nil? or path['edge'].nil?
+      $stderr.puts 'TigerAux error: missing path hash entry'
+      exit 1
+    end
+    
+    from_node, *from_descr = path['from']
+    to_node, *to_descr = path['to']
+
+    # using the special flags tp_prev_to and tp_prev_from,
+    # a node can also be set to be the value in the 
+    # 'previous' hash
+    from_node = cf_previous(from_node, previous)
+    to_node = cf_previous(to_node, previous)
+    
+    # test if 'from' node description matches
+    unless test_node(from_node, from_descr)
+      return nil
+    end
+    
+    # try path
+    direction, edgelabel = path['edge']
+    case direction
+    when 'up'
+      label = from_node.parent_label()
+      if label =~ edgelabel
+	end_nodes = [from_node.parent()]
+      else
+	end_nodes = []
+      end
+    when 'dn'
+      end_nodes = []
+      from_node.each_child { |child|
+	if child.parent_label() =~ edgelabel
+	  end_nodes << child
+	end
+      }
+    else
+      $stderr.puts 'TigerAux error: unknown direction'
+      exit 1
+    end
+    
+    # check all prospective end nodes
+    remaining_end_nodes = end_nodes.select { |prosp_to_node|
+      if to_node.nil? or to_node == prosp_to_node
+	test_node(prosp_to_node, to_descr)
+      else
+	false
+      end
+    }
+    
+    if remaining_end_nodes.empty?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return {'from' => from_node,
+	  'to' => remaining_end_nodes}
+    end
+  end
+  
+  ###
+  def test_node(node, descr)
+
+    cat_or_pos, pattern = descr
+    if node.nil?
+      $stderr.puts 'TigerAux error: test_node nil'
+      exit 1
+    end
+    
+    case cat_or_pos
+    when 'pos'
+      if node.part_of_speech =~ pattern
+	return true
+      else
+	return false
+      end
+    when 'cat'
+      if node.category =~ pattern
+	return true
+      else
+	return false
+      end
+    when nil
+      return true
+    else
+      $stderr.puts 'TigerAux error: neither cat nor pos'
+      exit 1
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def cf_previous(node, previous)
+    case node
+    when 'tp_prev_to'
+      return previous['to'].first
+    when 'tp_prev_from'
+      return previous['from']
+    else
+      return node
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def project_participle(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    return project_this(lower, upper_l, upper_u,
+                              [self.method('conj'),
+                               self.method('pp_pp'),
+                               self.method('conj'),
+                               self.method('pp_fin')])
+  end
+  
+  ###
+  def project_infinitive(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    return project_this(lower, upper_l, upper_u,
+                        [self.method('conj'),
+                         self.method('inf_fin'),
+                         self.method('vzinf_fin'),
+                         self.method('cvzinf_fin')
+                        ])
+    end
+
+  ###
+  def project_modal(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    return project_this(lower, upper_l, upper_u,
+                        [self.method('conj'),
+                         self.method('modal'),
+                         self.method('othermodal')
+                        ])
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def project_participle_(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    return project_this(lower, upper_l, upper_u,
+                              [self.method('conj'),
+                               self.method('pp_pp'),
+                               self.method('conj'),
+                               self.method('pp_fin')])
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def project_this(lower, upper_l, upper_u, method_list)
+    method_list.each { |method|
+      retv = method.call(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+      unless retv.nil?
+        lower, upper_l, upper_u = retv
+      end
+    }
+    return [lower, upper_l, upper_u]
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def pp_pp(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/],
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^C?VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^(HD)|(CJ)$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u, 'cat', /^C?VP$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => ['tp_prev_to', 'cat', /^VP$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+      
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, retv['from'], retv['from']]
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def pp_fin(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^C?VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^(HD)|(CJ)$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^C?VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^(OC)|(PD)$/]}
+                          ])
+    
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    end
+    
+    new_upper = retv['to'].first
+    
+    # test two alternatives:
+    # head child of new_upper is either a VXFIN or VXINF terminal...
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [new_upper, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^V[AMV]((FIN)|(INF))$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+		  
+    # ... or a VZ nonterminal
+    if retv.nil?
+      retv = 
+            test_localtrees([
+                              {'from' => [new_upper, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                               'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^VZ$/],
+                               'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                            ])
+    end
+
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, new_upper, new_upper]
+    end
+  end
+
+ 
+  ###
+  def inf_fin(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'pos', /^V[AMV]INF$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^C?VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^(HD)|(CJ)$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^C?VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => ['tp_prev_to', 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^(VAFIN)|(VAINF)|(VVINF)$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, retv['from'], retv['from']]
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  def vzinf_fin(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'cat', /^VZ$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^HD$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => ['tp_prev_to', 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^V[AV]FIN$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, retv['from'], retv['from']]
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def cvzinf_fin(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'cat', /^VZ$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^CVP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^CJ$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^CVP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]}
+                          ])
+    
+      if retv.nil?
+	return nil
+      else
+	return [lower, upper_l, retv['to'].first]
+      end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def modal(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'pos', /^V[AMV]INF$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^C?VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^(HD)|(CJ)$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^C?VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => ['tp_prev_to', 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^VM((PP)|(FIN)|(INF))$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+    
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, retv['from'], retv['from']]
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def othermodal(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = 
+          test_localtrees([
+                            {'from' => [lower, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/], 
+                             'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^VP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^V[AMV]((INF)|(FIN))$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]},
+                            {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^VP$/], 
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]},
+                            {'from' => ['tp_prev_to', 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^VM((PP)|(FIN)|(INF))$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}
+                          ])
+    
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [retv['to'].first, retv['from'], retv['from']]
+    end
+  end
+  
+  ###
+  def conj(lower, upper_l, upper_u)
+    
+    retv = test_localtrees([
+                             {'from' => [lower, nil, //], 
+                              'to' => [upper_l, 'cat', /^VP$/],
+                              'edge' => ['up', //]},
+                             {'from' => [upper_u,'cat', /^VP$/], 
+                              'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^CVP$/],
+                              'edge' => ['up', /^CJ$/]}
+                           ])
+    
+    if retv.nil?
+      return nil
+    else
+      return [lower, upper_l, retv['to'].first]
+    end
+  end
+end
+
+###########################################################3
+class Tiger < SynInterpreter
+
+  extend TigerMaxProjection
+  
+  @@heads_obj = Headz.new()
+
+  ###
+  # generalize over POS tags.
+  #
+  # returns one of:
+  #
+  # adj:  adjective (phrase)
+  # adv:  adverb (phrase)
+  # card: numbers, quantity phrases
+  # con:  conjunction
+  # det:  determiner, including possessive/demonstrative pronouns etc.
+  # for:  foreign material
+  # noun: noun (phrase), including personal pronouns, proper names, expletives
+  # part: particles, truncated words (German compound parts)
+  # prep: preposition (phrase)
+  # pun:  punctuation, brackets, etc.
+  # sent: sentence
+  # top:  top node of a sentence
+  # verb: verb (phrase)
+  # nil:  something went wrong
+  #
+  # default: return phrase type as is
+  def Tiger.category(node) # SynNode
+    pt = Tiger.pt(node)
+    if pt.nil?
+      # phrase type could not be determined
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    case pt.to_s.strip()
+    when /^C?ADJ/, /^PIS/, /^C?AP[^A-Za-z]?/ then return "adj"
+    when /^C?ADV/, /^C?AVP/, /^PROAV/ then  return "adv"
+    when /^CARD/  then return "card"
+    when  /^C?KO/             then return "con"
+    when /^PPOS/, /^ART/ ,/^PIAT/, /^PD/, /^PRELAT/, /^PWAT/ then return "det"
+    when /^FM/ , /^XY/ then return "for"
+    when /^C?N/, /^PPER/, /^PN/, /^PRELS/, /^PWS/ then return "noun"
+    when /^ITJ/ then return "sent"  
+    when  /^PRF/, /^PTK/, /^TRUNC/      then return "part"
+    when  /^C?PP/ , /^APPR/, /^PWAV/      then return "prep"
+    when /^\$/ then return "pun"
+    when /^C?S$/, /^CO/, /^DL/, /^CH/, /^ISU/  then return "sent" # I don't like to put CO/DL in here, but where should they go?
+    when /^TOP/                then return "top"
+    when /^C?V/               then return "verb"
+    else
+      #      $stderr.puts "WARNING Unknown category/POS "+c.to_s+" (German data)"
+      return nil
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # is relative pronoun?
+  #
+  def Tiger.relative_pronoun?(node) # SynNode
+    pt = Tiger.pt(node)
+    if pt.nil?
+      # phrase type could not be determined
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    case pt.to_s.strip()
+    when /^PREL/, /^PWAV/,  /^PWAT/
+      return true
+    else
+      return false
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  # lemma_backoff:
+  #
+  # if we have lemma information, return that,
+  # and failing that, return the word
+  #
+  # returns: string or nil
+  def Tiger.lemma_backoff(node)
+    lemma = super(node)
+    # lemmatizer has returned more than one possible lemma form: 
+    # just accept the first 
+    if lemma =~ /^([^|]+)|/ 
+      return $1
+    else
+      return lemma
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # verb_with_particle:
+  #
+  # given a node and a nodelist,
+  # if the node represents a verb:
+  # see if the verb has a particle among the nodes in nodelist
+  # if so, return it
+  def Tiger.particle_of_verb(node,           # SynNode
+                             node_list)      # array: SynNode
+
+    # must be verb
+    unless Tiger.category(node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    # must have parent
+    unless node.parent
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    particles = node.parent.children.select { |sister|
+      # look for sisters of the verb node that are in node_list
+      node_list.include? sister
+    }.select { |sister|
+      # see if its incoming edge is labeled "SVP"
+      sister.parent_label() == "SVP"
+    }.reject { |particle|
+      # Sleepy parser problem: it often tags ")" as a separate verb particle
+      particle.get_attribute("lemma") == ")" or
+	particle.word == ")"
+    }
+
+    if particles.length == 0
+      return nil
+    else
+      return particles.first
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  # auxiliary?
+  # 
+  # returns true if the given node is an auxiliary
+  # default: no recognition of auxiliaries
+  def Tiger.auxiliary?(node)
+    if node.part_of_speech() and
+        node.part_of_speech =~ /^VA/
+      return true
+    else
+      return false
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # modal?
+  #
+  # returns true if the given node is a modal verb
+  #
+  # returns: boolean
+  def Tiger.modal?(node)
+    if node.part_of_speech() and
+	node.part_of_speech =~ /^VM/
+      return true
+    else
+      return false
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # head_terminal
+  #
+  # given a constituent, return the terminal node
+  # that describes its headword
+  # default: a heuristic that assumes the existence of a 'head' 
+  #   attribute on nodes:
+  #   find the first node in my yield corresponding to my head attribute.
+  # add-on: if this doesn't work, ask the headz package for the head
+  #
+  # returns: a SynNode object if successful, else nil
+  def Tiger.head_terminal(node)
+    if (head = super(node))
+      return head
+    end
+
+    head_hash = @@heads_obj.get_sem_head(node)
+    if head_hash.nil?
+      return nil
+    elsif head_hash["prep"]
+      return head_hash["prep"]
+    else
+      return head_hash["head"]
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  #####################################
+  # verbs(sobj)  sobj is a sentence in SalsaTigerSentence format
+  #
+  # return a list of the nodes of full verbs in a given sentence:
+  # it is a list of lists. An item in that list is
+  # - either a pair [verb, svp]
+  #   of the node of a verb with separable prefix 
+  #   and the node of its separate prefix
+  # - or a singleton [verb]
+  #   of the node of a verb without separate prefix 
+  def Tiger.verbs(sobj)
+    return sobj.terminals().select { |t|
+      # verbs
+
+      Tiger.category(t) == "verb"
+    }.map { |verb|
+
+      # watch out for separate verb prefixes
+      parent = verb.parent
+      if parent.nil?
+        # verb is root node, for whatever reason
+        [verb]
+      else
+        
+        svp_children = parent.children_by_edgelabels(['SVP'])
+        if svp_children.empty?
+          # verb has no separate verb prefix
+          [verb]
+        elsif svp_children.length == 1
+          # verb has exactly one separate verb prefix
+          [verb, svp_children.first]
+        else
+          # more than one separate verb prefix? weird.
+          $stderr.print 'Tiger warning: more than one separate verb prefix '
+          $stderr.print 'for node ', verb.id, "\n"
+          [verb, svp_children.first]
+        end
+      end
+    }
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # preposition
+  #
+  # if the given node represents a PP, return the preposition (string)
+  def Tiger.preposition(node) # SynNode
+    hash = @@heads_obj.get_sem_head(node) 
+    if hash and hash["prep"]
+      return hash["prep"].to_s
+    end
+
+    # this didn't work, try something else: first preposition among my terminals
+    pnode = node.terminals_sorted().detect { |n|
+      Tiger.category(n) == "prep"
+    }
+    if pnode
+      return pnode.word()
+    else
+      return nil
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  # voice
+  #
+  # given a constituent, return 
+  # - "active"/"passive" if it is a verb
+  # - nil, else
+  def Tiger.voice(node)
+
+    unless Tiger.category(node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    # node is a participle linked to its VP or S parent by HD or CJ
+    retv = test_localtrees([ {'from' => [node, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/],
+                              'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(CVP)|(VP)|S|(CS)$/],
+                              'edge' => ['up', /^(HD)|(CJ)$/]}])
+
+    if retv
+      verb_parent = retv['to'].first
+
+      # coordination?
+      retv = test_localtrees([{'from' => [verb_parent, nil, //],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^CVP$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^CJ$/]}])
+      if retv
+
+     	# yes, coordination
+	#   S/VP
+	#    |OC
+	#   CVP
+	#    | CJ
+	#   VP
+	#    | HD
+	# participle
+      
+	cvp = retv['to'].first  
+   
+	retv = test_localtrees([{'from' => [cvp, nil, //],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^S|(VP)$/],
+                             'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]}])
+
+      else
+	# node's parent is linked to its parent via an OC edge
+	retv = test_localtrees([{'from' => [verb_parent, nil, //],
+				   'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(VP)|S$/],
+				   'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]}]) 
+      end
+
+      if retv.nil?
+        return "active"
+      end
+   
+      verb_grandparent = retv['to'].first
+   
+    else
+      # KE Dec 19: test whether the participle
+      # is linked to its parent via an OC edge.
+      # if so, it has the same  function as the
+      # verb_grandparent above
+
+      # node is a participle linked to its VP or S parent by OC
+      retv = test_localtrees([ {'from' => [node, 'pos', /^V[AMV]PP$/],
+                              'to' => [nil, 'cat', /^(CVP)|(VP)|S|(CS)$/],
+                              'edge' => ['up', /^OC$/]}])
+
+      if retv
+	verb_grandparent = retv['to'].first
+
+      else
+	# this test has failed
+	return "active"
+      end
+    end
+   
+    #puts test_localtrees([{'from' => [verb_grandparent, nil, //],
+    #                         'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^VA.*$/],
+    #                         'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}])
+
+    # node's grandparent has a HD child that is a terminal node, an auxiliary
+    retv = test_localtrees([{'from' => [verb_grandparent, nil, //],
+                             'to' => [nil, 'pos', /^VA.*$/],
+                             'edge' => ['dn', /^HD$/]}])
+    
+    if retv.nil?
+      return "active"
+    end
+
+    # that HD child is a form of 'werden'
+    may_be_werden = retv['to'].first
+
+    unless may_be_werden.part_of_speech() =~ /^VA/ 
+      return "active"
+    end
+
+    # no morphology, so approximate it using regexp.s
+    case may_be_werden.word
+    when "geworden"
+    when /^w.+rd(e|en|et|st|est)?$/
+    else
+      return "active"
+    end
+
+    # all tests passed successfully
+    return "passive"
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # gfs
+  #
+  # grammatical functions of a constituent:
+  # 
+  # returns: a list of pairs [relation(string), node(SynNode)]
+  # where <node> stands in the relation <relation> to the parameter
+  # that the method was called with
+  #
+  def Tiger.gfs(node,   # SynNode object
+                sent)   # SalsaTigerSentence object
+
+    case Tiger.category(node)
+    when "adj"
+      return Tiger.gfs_adj(node)
+    when "noun"
+      return Tiger.gfs_noun(node, sent)
+    when "verb"
+      return Tiger.gfs_verb(node)
+    else
+      return []
+    end
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  # informative_content_node
+  #
+  # for most constituents: nil
+  # for a PP, the NP
+  # for an SBAR, the VP
+  # for a VP, the embedded VP 
+  def Tiger.informative_content_node(node)
+    this_pt = Tiger.simplified_pt(node)
+
+    unless ["S", "CS", "VP", "CVP", "PP", "CPP"].include? this_pt
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    nh = Tiger.head_terminal(node)
+    unless nh
+      return nil
+    end
+    headlemma = Tiger.lemma_backoff(nh)
+    
+    nonhead_children = node.children().reject { |n| 
+      nnh = Tiger.head_terminal(n)
+      not(nnh) or 
+        Tiger.lemma_backoff(nnh) == headlemma 
+    }
+    if nonhead_children.length() == 1
+      return nonhead_children.first
+    end
+
+    # more than one child:
+    # for SBAR and VP take child with head POS starting in VB,
+    # for PP child with head POS starting in NN
+    case this_pt
+    when /^C?S/, /^C?VP/
+      icont_child = nonhead_children.detect { |n|
+        h = Tiger.head_terminal(n)
+        h and h.part_of_speech() =~ /^V/
+      }
+    when /^C?PP/
+      icont_child = nonhead_children.detect { |n|
+        h = Tiger.head_terminal(n)
+        h and h.part_of_speech() =~ /^N/
+      }
+    else
+      raise "Shouldn't be here"
+    end
+
+    if icont_child
+      return icont_child
+    else
+      return nonhead_children.first
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # main node of expression
+  #
+  # second argument non-nil: 
+  # don't handle multiword expressions beyond verbs with separate particles
+  # 
+  # returns: SynNode, main node, if found
+  # else nil
+  def Tiger.main_node_of_expr(nodelist, 
+                              no_mwes = nil) 
+
+    # map nodes to terminals
+    nodelist = nodelist.map { |n| n.yield_nodes() }.flatten
+
+    # do we have a list of length 2,
+    # one member being "zu", the other a verb, with a common parent "VZ"? 
+    # then return the verb
+    if nodelist.length() == 2
+      zu, verb = nodelist.distribute { |n| n.part_of_speech() == "PTKZU" }
+      if zu.length() == 1 and
+          Tiger.category(verb.first) == "verb" and
+          verb.first.parent == zu.first.parent and
+          verb.first.parent.category() == "VZ"
+        return verb.first
+      end
+    end
+
+    # no joy: try method offered by abstract class
+    return super(nodelist, no_mwes)
+  end
+
+
+  ########
+  # prune?
+  # given a target node t and another node n of the syntactic structure,
+  # decide whether n is likely to instantiate a semantic role
+  # of t. If not, recommend n for pruning. 
+  #
+  # This method implements a slight variant of Xue and Palmer (EMNLP 2004).
+  # Pruning according to Xue & Palmer, EMNLP 2004.
+  # "Step 1: Designate the predicate as the current node and 
+  #    collect its sisters (constituents attached at the same level
+  #    as the predicate) unless its sisters are coordinated with the 
+  #    predicate.
+  #
+  #  Step 2: Reset the current node to its parent and repeat Step 1
+  #    till it reaches the top level node.
+  #
+  # Modifications made here:
+  # - paths of length 0 accepted in any case
+  # - TIGER coordination allowed (phrase types CX) 
+  #
+  # returns: false to recommend n for pruning, else true
+  def Tiger.prune?(node, # SynNode
+                   paths_to_target, # hash: node ID -> Path object: paths from nodes to target
+                   terminal_index)  # hash: terminal node -> word index in sentence
+    
+    path_to_target = paths_to_target[node.id()]
+    
+    if not path_to_target
+      # no path from target to node: suggest for pruning
+      return 0
+    elsif path_to_target.length == 0 
+      # target may be its own role: definite accept
+      return 1
+    else
+      # consider path from target to node: 
+      # (1) If the path to the current node includes at least one Up
+      # and exactly one Down, keep.
+      # (2) If the parth to the current node includes at least one Up
+      # and two Down and the roof node is a C-something, keep (coordination).
+      # (3) else discard
+
+      # count number of up and down steps in path to target      
+      num_up = 0
+      num_down = 0
+      path_to_target.each_step { |direction, edgelabel, nodelabel, endnode|
+        case direction
+        when /U/
+          num_up += 1
+        when /D/
+          num_down += 1
+        end
+      }
+            
+      if num_up >= 1 and num_down == 1
+        # case (1)
+        return  1
+      elsif num_up >= 1 and num_down == 2 and CollinsTntInterpreter.category(path_to_target.lca()) =~ /^C/
+        # case (2)
+        return 1
+      else
+        # case (3)
+        return 0
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  
+
+  ################################
+  private
+  ################################
+
+  ###
+  def Tiger.subject(verb_node)
+
+    unless Tiger.category(verb_node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    if Tiger.voice(verb_node) == "passive"
+      # passive: then what we would like to return as subject
+      # is the SBP sibling of this verb
+    
+      parent = verb_node.parent
+
+      if parent.nil?
+        # verb_node seems to be the root, strangely enough
+        return []
+      end
+      return parent.children_by_edgelabels(['SBP'])
+
+    else
+      # not passive: then the subject of the verb
+      # is actually its subject in this sentence
+
+      # needed???
+      # return if there is no surface subject
+      # e.g. parser errors like ADJD => VVPP
+    
+      return Tiger.surface_subject(verb_node)
+    end
+ 
+  end
+
+
+  ###
+  def Tiger.direct_object(verb_node)
+
+    unless Tiger.category(verb_node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    if Tiger.voice(verb_node) == "passive"
+      # passive: then what we would like to return as direct object
+      # is the subject of this verb
+      return Tiger.surface_subject(verb_node)
+    else
+
+      # not passive: then the direct object
+      # is an OA sibling of the node verb_node
+      parent = verb_node.parent
+      
+      if parent.nil?
+        # verb_node seems to be the root, strangely enough
+        return []
+      end
+      
+      return parent.children_by_edgelabels(['OA'])
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def Tiger.dative_object(verb_node)
+
+    unless Tiger.category(verb_node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    parent = verb_node.parent
+
+    if parent.nil?
+      return []
+    end
+
+    return parent.children_by_edgelabels(['DA'])
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def Tiger.prep_object(verb_node, preposition)
+      
+    unless Tiger.category(verb_node) == "verb"
+      return nil
+    end
+
+    parent = verb_node.parent()
+    if parent.nil?
+	  # verb_node seems to be the root, strangely enough
+      return []
+    end
+    
+    # find all PPs that are siblings of verb_node
+    pps = []
+    parent.each_child { |child|
+      if child.category == 'PP'
+        pps << child
+      end
+    }
+
+    # now filter for those with the right preposition
+    if preposition.nil?
+      return pps
+    else
+      return pps.find_all { |node|
+        # prepositions are AC children of PP nodes
+        node.children_by_edgelabels(['AC']).map { |prep_node|
+          # prepositions are terminal words
+          prep_node.word()
+          # we are interested in those that match the parameter 'preposition'
+        }.include? preposition
+      }
+    end
+  end
+
+  ###
+  def Tiger.surface_subject(verb_node)
+ 
+    max_proj = Tiger.max_projection(verb_node)
+    # test each level in the computation of the maximal projection,
+    # from the lowest (the parent of verb_node)
+    # to the highest
+    max_proj['max_proj_at_level'].each { |node|
+      # test if this node has a SB child
+      # if so, use it
+      sb_children = node.children_by_edgelabels(['SB'])
+   
+      unless sb_children.empty?
+        return sb_children
+      end
+    }
+    return []
+  end
+
+
+  ##################
+  # gfs_verb
+  #
+  # given a node (a SynNode object) that is a terminal node
+  # representing a verb, determine 
+  # all grammatical functions of this verb 
+  # along with their head words
+  #
+  # verb_node: SynNode object, terminal node representing a verb
+  #
+  # returns: a list of pairs [relation(string), node(SynNode)]
+  #  'relation' is 'SB', 'OA', 'DA', 'MO', 'OC'
+  #  'node' is the constituent that stands in this relation to verb_node
+  
+  def Tiger.gfs_verb(verb_node)
+
+    unless Tiger.category(verb_node) == "verb"
+      return []
+    end
+
+    # construct a list of pairs [relation, node]
+    nodes = Array.new
+    # subjects:
+    n_arr = Tiger.subject(verb_node)
+
+    if n_arr.length() > 0
+      nodes << ["SB", n_arr.first]
+    end
+
+#extrem frustrierend , sondern auch schädlich 
+#sagte
+#Däubler-Gmelin
+#&apos;&apos;
+#die gesamte SPD 
+#nicht nur für Euch extrem frustrierend , sondern auch schädlich für die gesamte SPD &apos;&apos; gewesen 
+#die Streitigkeiten zwischen Führungsmitgliedern 
+#gewesen
+#die Streitigkeiten zwischen Führungsmitgliedern 
+#frustrierend
+    
+    # direct object:
+    n_arr = Tiger.direct_object(verb_node)
+    if n_arr.length() > 0
+      nodes << ["OA", n_arr.first]
+    end
+    
+    # dative object:
+    n_arr = Tiger.dative_object(verb_node)
+    if n_arr.length() > 0
+      nodes << ["DA", n_arr.first]
+    end
+    
+
+    # pp objects and adjuncts:
+    nodes.concat Tiger.prep_object(verb_node, nil).map { |n| 
+      unless (edgelabel = n.parent_label)
+        edgelabel = "MO"
+      end       
+      [edgelabel + "-" + Tiger.preposition(n).to_s, n]
+    }
+
+    # sentence complement:
+    # verb node's parent has an OC child
+    parent = verb_node.parent
+    unless parent.nil?
+      parent.children_by_edgelabels(["OC"]).each { |n|
+	nodes << ["OC", n]
+      }
+    end
+
+    return nodes
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # gfs_noun
+  #
+  # determine relation names and relation-bearing syntax nodes
+  # for noun targets
+  #
+  # returns: a list of pairs
+  # [rel(string), node(SynNode)]
+  def Tiger.gfs_noun(noun_node, # SynNode object: terminal, noun
+                     sent_obj)  # SalsaTigerSentence object: sentence in which this noun occurs
+
+  
+    # construct a list of pairs [relation, node]
+    retv = Array.new
+    
+    ##
+    # determine noun-noun relations:
+    #  (1) edge label leading to this node is NK, and
+    #     parent of this node has child with edge label not NK
+    #     then: that child
+    #  (2) or parent of this node is NP/PP, the grandparent is NP,
+    #     and parent and grandparent are not linked by an NK edge
+    #     then: the grandparent
+    #   (3) or grandparent of this node is CNP
+    #     then: that CNP's other children
+    parent = noun_node.parent()
+    np_pp_labels_without_cnp = ["NP", "PP", "PN"]
+    np_pp_labels = ["NP", "PP", "PN", "CNP"]
+  
+    if parent and 
+	noun_node.parent_label() == "NK"
+      # (1)
+      parent.children().select { |n| 
+	n.parent_label() != "NK"
+      }.each { |n|
+	unless n == noun_node
+	  
+	  retv << [n.parent_label(), n]
+	end
+      }
+    end
+    
+    # (2)
+    if parent
+      grandparent = parent.parent()
+    end
+
+    if parent and grandparent and 
+	np_pp_labels.include? parent.category() and
+	np_pp_labels_without_cnp.include? grandparent.category() and
+	parent.parent_label() != "NK"
+	
+	retv << [parent.parent_label(), grandparent]
+    end
+      
+    # (3)
+    if parent and grandparent and 
+	grandparent.category() == "CNP"
+	
+      grandparent.each_child() { |n|
+	if np_pp_labels.include? n.category() and
+	    n != parent
+
+	  retv << ["CJ", n]
+	end
+      }
+    end
+
+    return retv
+  end
+
+  ###
+  # gfs_adj
+  #
+  # determine relation names and relation-bearing syntax nodes
+  # for adjective targets
+  #
+  # returns: a list of pairs
+  # [rel(string), node(SynNode)]
+  #
+  # although in this case it's just one pair (if we can find it),
+  # describing the head noun
+  def Tiger.gfs_adj(adj_node) # SynNode object: terminal, adjective
+    
+    parent = adj_node.parent()
+    
+    if parent.nil?
+      return []
+    end
+
+    if ["NP", "CNP", "PP", "CPP", "PN"].include? parent.category() 
+      return [["HD", parent]]
+    else
+      return []
+    end
+  end
+  
+
+end
+
+#( (TOP (S (KON_JU Und) (ADV_MO schon) (VVFIN_HD weiÃ<9f>) (NP_SB (ART_NK der) (ADJA_NK Berliner) (NN_NK Verkehrsverein)) ($, ,) (S_OC (PWS_SB was) (ADV_MO da) (PIS_MNR alles) (PP_MO (APPR_AC auf) (ART_NK die) (NN_NK Stadt) ($, ,) (PPOSAT_NK seine) (AP_NK (PP_MO (APPR_AC durch) (ART_NK eine) (NN_NK Rekonstruktion)) (ADV_MO so) (ADJA_HD prachtvoll)) (ADJA_NK markierte) (NN_NK Mitte) ($, ,) (AP_NK (PIS_HD alles))) (VVFIN_HD zukommt))) ($. .)))