Controlled English for Effective Communication during Coalition Operations
Abstract
Coalition operations involve multi-team and/or multi-nation collaborations. Linguistic variations and cultural differences often create unexpected challenges for effective communication, and thus for Command and Control (C2) during military operations. In this paper, we propose using a controlled natural language, namely International Technology Alliance Controlled English (CE), and CE-based tools to improve cross-linguistic/cross-cultural communication. We will discuss various types of linguistic variations and cultural differences manifested by U.S. and British groups during coalition operations. The differences include lexical differences, and more importantly, differences in language use. These differences often result in miscommunication that can impede effective operations. CE (Mott 2010) is a subset of English with a restricted grammar that is based on a formal syntax and semantics. CE is human friendly but it allows machine processing. The current version of CE provides a common form of expression that promotes standard terminology and usage to reduce ambiguity in person-to-person communication; allows end-users to create new concepts with associated syntax and semantics; and provides a basis for automated and assistive applications and tools that support natural human-computer interaction, reasoning, and explanation. CE and CE-based tools can play an important role in facilitating cross-linguistic and cross-culture communication and enabling multi-nation teams to work together effectively and efficiently.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA588225
Entities
People
- Anne Kao
- Cheryl Giammanco
- Dave Braines
- David Mott
- Ping Xue
- Stephen Poteet
Organizations
- Boeing