Inference Method for Natural Language Propositions Involving Fuzzy Quantifiers

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an inference method for natural language propositions involving fuzzy quantifiers. For example, from "Most tall men are heavy", we can infer a modified proposition "Many tall men are very heavy", where the fuzzy quantifier "Many" in the inferred proposition can be resolved analytically. Generally, for natural language propositions involving three types of quantifiers : a monotone nonincreasing type (few, …), a monotone nondecreasing type (most, …) and a triangular type (several, …), we can resolve fuzzy quantifiers analytically for inferred propositions.