Part of VIL's research focuses on finding an appropriate classification for the verb system. A verb classification tree is a hierarchical tree, where the leaf nodes consist of the actual verbs (or the most detailed description of the meaning of them), and the non-terminal nodes are more abstract descriptions of the meaning of the classes to which the verbs in the leaves belong (categories/superclasses). As it turns out, not much research has been done on the classification of the verb system. If there has been some, it tended to focus on a specific language. Since our system is going to be a universal communication language, our classification of the verb system should be universal too.

After intensive research I have come up with a classification for the verb system. What we would like to know is: how appropriate and understandable is it? This test is supposed to give me enough feedback to know whether or not the classification is good, complete, and consistent.

A Paper on Classifying Verbs. (186K, needs ps viewer)

Tasks of the user

When doing the test, you have to select a verb. Then you have to try and classify that verb, starting from the root of the tree all the way to a leaf node (the verb itself). If you found the verb successfully, you may continue with another one. If you failed, you must backtrack until you find the right one. You are expected to take notes of the paths you follow (including backtracking), and mail me the results. You can use the submit form that comes with the verb test web page, but you can also mail me in person.

NOTE: if you do not feel like taking notes for every node you traverse, it suffices to note down the name of the verb and the leaf nodes that you reach when trying to find the verb. I woul like you to put down all leaves reached, because that is the only way I will learn about the completeness and learnability of the classification.

For a more detailed step-by-step instruction, go to the Verb Classification Test Page.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Please fill out this questionaire first.

Do the Verb Classification Test.

Special thanks go out to Dave Brown for starting this web test.

Mail me your results