A Role-Lexical Module (RLM) for Biblical Hebrew

The Role-Lexical Module (RLM) is a new Web application designed to map lexical meaning from syntax to semantics and to parse a Hebrew text. This tool enables the linguist to decompose meaning according to the notion of semantics in Role and Reference Grammar. Work by programmers Chris Wilson and Ulrik Petersen allows us to exploit WordNet for definition of glosses. On this basis the linguist can classify verbs into Aktionsart classes, represent the meaning of clauses following a selection of Logical Structure, and gradually build an RRG lexicon for Biblical Hebrew. The potential and procedures are illustrated in analyses of the verbs of killing, creation and seeing in Biblical Hebrew. This tool helps us map from syntax to semantics in a closed corpus in the database of the Werkgroep Informatica of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.