A Computational Approach to Definite NPs

As pronouns are resolved with their antecedents, definite NPs may enter into the anaphora-antecedent relations with indefinite NPs. This paper is to provide faster and more efficient computational algorithms by which definite NPs are resolved effectively, For this purpose, this paper extends Chierchia's Binding Theory in Categorial Grammar, and definite NPs are resolved with their antecedents by similar algorithms that are used to reflexive resolution. In these algorithms, the relations between indefinite NP and definite NP are represented with λ-expressions, and definite NPs are resolved with their antecedent by λ-conversions.