On Because and Why: Reasoning with Natural Language

Abstract

Because, as an act of verbal reasoning, is described in terms of its transitivity, composite assertions and reasoning. The latter includes induction through X because Y and the deduction subsequently afforded by why X. Once the component assertions X and Y are disavowed, it illustrates the third level of Peircean reasoning, abduction. The language engine, Enguage, is introduced and positioned as a novel approach to language processing. Three utterance repertoires of the Enguage test suite, which support because and why, are described. These are then applied using Enguage, and the resultant output is presented. A user can thus demonstrate reasoning interactively, via text-to-speech software, with a machine that can be said to understand why.