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natural language

natural language

2 3.5
A system people use to speak and write to each other rather than computer code
  • noun
  • /ˈnæʧərəl ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lenguaje natural
  • Natural language enables people to communicate ideas and thoughts effectively every day.
  • natural language processing
  • natural language structures
  • natural language semantics

So let's think about natural language dialogue, the Turing test.

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Examples

  • Nye et al. (2018) describe the use and effectiveness of natural language tutorials in algebra.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The problem is that presently the matching is based on natural language, whatever you type in in your emails.

  • So one other aspect of the natural language models that I want to touch on is the understanding.

  • Second, the the words and the rules of natural language apply across all domains.

  • But even though that may be the case, the natural language output was impressive.

  • Another example can be found in the field of natural language translation.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Written communication tasks are scored using natural language processing software.

    Academic text (2007)
  • It was able to answer questions in natural language and move blocks around in a virtual world.

  • Her research interests include question answering, semantic search, and natural language discourse and dialogue.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Isabel provides diagnostic support using natural language processing of medical textbooks and journals.

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

language
vsnatural language
612 1.0

The ability to communicate with others using spoken or written words

is the human speech and writing system excluding artificial or computer systems
tongue
vsnatural language
108 4.4

A spoken or written language used by a group of people

is the general human speech and writing system not tied to one community

Antonyms

artificial language
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A language made by people for a special use, like computers or international communication

How Precise

algorithmic language
  • Specialized
8.0
programming language
  • Specialized
15 3.9
code
  • Specialized
342 3.9
natural language
  • Specialized
2 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

natural + language

The meaning is directly and predictably built from 'natural' (not artificial) + 'language' (a system of communication), so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it as a human/spoken/written language as opposed to an artificial one. This compositional interpretation is common across languages and follows a straightforward modifier+noun pattern, making it immediately comprehensible.

Etymology

The term natural language creates a simple image: natural means it grows by itself, and language means the words people use. So, natural language means the ordinary 'human' languages we speak or write, not 'computer' or 'artificial' languages.