Granularity in the Interpretation of Around in Approximative Lexical Time Indications

Abstract The representation of approximative lexical time indications (ALTI's) in natural language for building conceptual models, for integration in database systems and AI‐ or other applications, is made difficult by a number of factors. In this article, ALTI's are discussed relative to two related aspects: (1) vagueness, and (2) interpretation. As for (1), ALTI's are shown to be vague in degree. As for (2), granularity is considered to be the determining factor in the interpretation and representation of ALTI's. The first part of the article analyses the vagueness of lexical time indications (LTI's) in general, both as far as their status and as far as their interpretation is concerned. In the second part of the article, approximative lexical time indications (ALTI's) are singled out for an analysis along three lines: (1) the importance of modelling ALTI's, (2) the interpretation of ALTI's, and (3) specific factors determining the interpretation and representation of ALTI's