Exploring Regional Variation in Spatial Language Using Spatially Stratified Web-Sampled Route Direction Documents

Sen Xu; Alexander Klippel; Alan M. MacEachren; Prasenjit Mitra

doi:10.1080/13875868.2014.943904

Exploring Regional Variation in Spatial Language Using Spatially Stratified Web-Sampled Route Direction Documents

Sen Xu, Alexander Klippel, Alan M. MacEachren, Prasenjit Mitra

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Spatial language, such as route directions, can be analyzed to shed light on how humans communicate and conceptualize spatial knowledge. This article details a computational linguistic approach using route directions to study regional variations in spatial language. We developed a web-sourcing approach to collect human-generated route direction documents on a geographical scale. Specifically, we built the Spatially strAtified Route Direction (SARD) Corpus through automated scraping, classifying, and georeferencing of route directions. Based on semantic categories of cardinal and relative direction terms, the analysis of the SARD Corpus reveals significant differences and patterns on both national (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) and regional (contiguous U.S. states) levels. Combining computational linguistics and georeferencing approaches offers the potential for extending classic spatial linguistic studies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	255-283
Number of pages	29
Journal	Spatial Cognition and Computation
Volume	14
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/13875868.2014.943904
State	Published - Oct 2 2014

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Modeling and Simulation
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
Earth-Surface Processes
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design

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abstract = "Spatial language, such as route directions, can be analyzed to shed light on how humans communicate and conceptualize spatial knowledge. This article details a computational linguistic approach using route directions to study regional variations in spatial language. We developed a web-sourcing approach to collect human-generated route direction documents on a geographical scale. Specifically, we built the Spatially strAtified Route Direction (SARD) Corpus through automated scraping, classifying, and georeferencing of route directions. Based on semantic categories of cardinal and relative direction terms, the analysis of the SARD Corpus reveals significant differences and patterns on both national (United States, United Kingdom, and Australia) and regional (contiguous U.S. states) levels. Combining computational linguistics and georeferencing approaches offers the potential for extending classic spatial linguistic studies.",

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