Smart Software Sort of Snares Sarcasm
December 18, 2015
I read “Scientists Devise Algorithm That Detects Sarcasm Better Than Humans.” My first reaction was, “How well do humans detect sarcasm?” In my experience, literalism is expected. Sarcasm and its kissing cousins cynicism and humor are surprises.
I read:
In at least one study, by UC Berkeley’s David Bamman and the University of Washington’s Noah A. Smith, computers showed an accuracy rate of 75 percent—notably better than the humans in the 2005 study.
There you go. (Not sarcasm) Smart software can detect a statement designed to deliver a payload which has the surprise thing going for it. (Sarcasm)
The write up asserted:
Bamman (smart software champion) says sentiment analysis can be useful, for instance, when conducting an analysis of reviews on Amazon, to determine whether the reviewer actually liked a product. “One thing that can really interfere with that,” he says, “is whether or not the person is being sarcastic.” Accurate sentiment analysis can also be valuable to national security. In 2014, the Secret Service posted a work order requesting analytics software that can detect sarcasm on social media—the idea being that the ability to identify sarcasm would help them discern jokes from actual emergencies.
Okay. (Sarcasm). More of the good enough approach to understanding text. Hey, maybe the system is better than a word list? (Sarcasm)
Human language is a slippery fish. The researchers are trying to create a net to snag the elusive creatures like “Hell is empty and all the devils are here.” (Sarcasm)
Stephen E Arnold, December 21, 2015
Comments
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
