US develop software to analyse metaphors - Telegraph
US develop software to analyse metaphors US intelligence officials are building a computer system to analyse metaphors used by foreigners during conversations to identify if they are friend or foe.
Words used in different languages will be analysed
7:10PM BST 27 May 2011
Follow A little-known agency is developing The Metaphor Program to "reveal the underlying beliefs and world-views of members of a culture" by examining the subtle differences in their choice of metaphors. It will pluck figures of speech from vast numbers of statements by Farsi, Russian, Spanish and English speakers, label them with precise meanings, and store all this in a computerised "metaphor repository". Analysts would then be able to compare real-life statements against the database to predict the intentions of people who may represent a threat to the US or who are involved in international conflicts. In a presentation to companies bidding to take part, Dr Heather McCallum-Bayliss, the project chief, suggested words used by Israelis and Palestinians to describe each other – and by Indians and Pakistanis to describe Britain – could be analysed. As an example, "you have to find your own way" is neutral and associated with a journey, she said, while "you have to fight for what you want" is negative and associated with a struggle. Related Articles
She said metaphors also influence those who hear them, hinting that the US may be interested in using the system to analyse the precise language used by extremist leaders. A study found people who read a report describing local crime as a "wild beast" wanted to lock up more criminals, while those given the report with crime described as a "virus" wanted to tackle the causes with social reform. An executive from a linguistics firm seeking to take part said: "It would help analysts, who have to go through piles and piles of documents, to get beyond the literal meaning of translated material and take the temperature of a place and time". Technology News
US develop software to analyse metaphors - Telegraph
US develop software to analyse metaphors US intelligence officials are building a computer system to analyse metaphors used by foreigners during conversations to identify if they are friend or foe.
Words used in different languages will be analysed
7:10PM BST 27 May 2011
Follow A little-known agency is developing The Metaphor Program to "reveal the underlying beliefs and world-views of members of a culture" by examining the subtle differences in their choice of metaphors. It will pluck figures of speech from vast numbers of statements by Farsi, Russian, Spanish and English speakers, label them with precise meanings, and store all this in a computerised "metaphor repository". Analysts would then be able to compare real-life statements against the database to predict the intentions of people who may represent a threat to the US or who are involved in international conflicts. In a presentation to companies bidding to take part, Dr Heather McCallum-Bayliss, the
 project chief, suggested words used by Israelis and Palestinians to describe each other – and by Indians and Pakistanis to describe Britain – could be analysed. As an example, "you have to find your own way" is neutral and associated with a journey, she said, while "you have to fight for what you want" is negative and associated with a struggle. Related Articles
She said metaphors also influence those who hear them, hinting that the US may be interested in using the system to analyse the precise language used by extremist leaders. A study found people who read a report describing local crime as a "wild beast" wanted to lock up more criminals, while those given the report with crime described as a "virus" wanted to tackle the causes with social reform. An executive from a linguistics firm seeking to take part said: "It would help analysts, who have to go through piles and piles of documents, to get beyond the literal meaning of translated material and take the temperature of a place and time". Technology News