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Parameter estimation for probabilistic finite-state transducers

Published 1 January 2001Open access
Jason Eisner
Citations167
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TL;DR

A "parameterized FST" paradigm is formulated and training algorithms for it are given, including a general bookkeeping trick ("expectation semirings") that cleanly and efficiently computes expectations and gradients.

Abstract

Weighted finite-state transducers suffer from the lack of a training algorithm. Training is even harder for transducers that have been assembled via finite-state operations such as composition, minimization, union, concatenation, and closure, as this yields tricky parameter tying. We formulate a "parameterized FST" paradigm and give training algorithms for it, including a general bookkeeping trick ("expectation semirings") that cleanly and efficiently computes expectations and gradients.

Keywords

Computer Science