Abstract: A computerized interactive language reference tool is provided which associates one or more connotative meanings with a denotative context of a given term. A data base stores the denotative context and connotative meanings of a plurality of terms. Connotative meaning, along with the intensity of such meaning are identified using a statistical model of sampled responses from select panels of evaluators. Areas of human interest also are associated with a given term and its denotative meaning. Scaled ratings of the power, activity and abstract/concrete qualities of the term also are maintained. Connotative meanings for any given term are determined from predefined emotional descriptors organized into a plurality of predefined categories. The data base content is updated over time to accommodate changing and new connotations occurring over time.

Abstract: A computerized interactive thesaurus reference tool is provided which retrieves connotative synonyms from a data base. Connotative synonyms are words or phrases which have the same or a similar emotional or related connotative meaning. Typically connotative synonyms have different denotative meanings. The interactive reference tool is similar to a thesaurus, but instead of relating words of similar denotative meaning, it relates terms of similar connotative meaning. The data base stores denotative context and connotative meanings of a plurality of words and phrases. Connotative meaning, along with the intensity of such meaning, are identified using a statistical model of sampled responses from select panels of evaluators. In addition, areas of human interest also are associated with a given word or phrase and its denotative meaning. Scaled ratings of the power, activity and abstract/concrete qualities of the word or phrase also are maintained.

Abstract: In a distributed method of data gathering, connotative meanings of terms are selected from predefined emotional descriptors organized into a plurality of emotional categories. Respective judges select zero or one emotional descriptors from a given category and rate the term for intensity. Each term is evaluated by a plurality of judges for each emotional category. The results are processed to assure that the selected emotional descriptors were not selected by chance. Retained associations become part of a database of terms, including connotative meanings and related intensity. A self-calibration method is used during intensity evaluation to assure uniformity among intensity ratings. The judges select among anchor terms for each intensity rating in a given emotional category, picking the anchor terms which most accurately reflects the rating level being checked. The completed data base is accessed through a computer interface to implement an electronic language reference tool.

Abstract: In a distributed method of data gathering, connotative meanings of terms are selected from predefined emotional descriptors organized into a plurality of emotional categories. Respective judges select zero or one emotional descriptors from a given category and rate the term for intensity. Each term is evaluated by a plurality of judges for each emotional category. The results are processed to assure that the selected emotional descriptors were not selected by chance. Anomalous results are purged. Statistical analysis is performed to assure that the selected emotional descriptors were not selected by chance. Retained associations become part of the database for the corresponding record. There may be 0, 1 or more connotative associations for any given record. The completed data base is accessed through a computer interface to implement an electronic language reference tool.

Abstract: A computerized interactive language reference system includes a database of terms with associated denotative, connotative and human interest information. The system goes through each word of a passage and determines whether there is an entry in the database for such word. For each term where there is an entry, there is a check to see if the term has more than one denotative meaning. Where there is more than one denotative meaning, an appropriate one of the denotative meanings is selected. The system evaluates the passage for positive emotional connotations, negative emotional connotations, global emotional connotations, human interest, connotations of power, connotations of activity and connotations of abstractness/concreteness. Dominant emotional connotations and dominant words also are specifically identified and ranked.