Using part-of-speech patterns to reduce query ambiguity

Query ambiguity is a generally recognized problem, particularly in Web environments where queries are commonly only one or two words in length. In this study, we explore one technique that finds commonly occurring patterns of parts of speech near a one-word query and allows them to be transformed into clarification questions. We use a technique derived from statistical language modeling to show that the clarification queries will reduce ambiguity much of the time, and often quite substantially. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.3.1 [Information Storage and Retrieval]: Content Analysis and Indexing--linguistic processing; H.3.3 [Information Storage and Retrieval]: Information Search and Retrieval--query formulation, search process Keywords Clarity, part of speech, query ambiguity

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2002
• Where: SIGIR
• Authors: James Allan, Hema Raghavan
• Keywords: Information Technology, One-word Query, Query Ambiguity, SIGIR 2002, Web Environments