NLP lexicons: innovative constructions and usages for machines and humans

Lexical resources have undergone significant changes with the generalized use of computers and the advent of the Internet. However, while such changes stand for revolutions when it comes to compare machine-readable dictionaries to their paper 'ancestors', machine-readable dictionaries, compiled for human readers, still have serious limitations. Natural language processing lexicons, initially developed for NLP applications, have shed light on some of such shortcomings. In this presentation, we will attempt to bring new elements relatively to NLP approaches aiming to develop present and tomorrow's lexical resources, in particular, using morphological and semantic information to better access lexical items. A special focus will be given on the semantic and on the multilingual side. Our argument is that nowadays lexical resources 1) should be useful both for men and machines, 2) can be constructed in alternative ways from classical lexicographic work, and 3) provide novel accesses and usages that are feasible only in the context of computer and user networks. Such points will be highlighted by means of two resources under development: LexRom, as an example of morphological form-based multilingual access, and the lexical network of JeuxDeMots, as an illustration of associative and semantic access.