The Accursed House by Émile Gaboriau: Summary

The Accursed House by Émile Gaboriau

Émile Gaboriau was a famous French writer, but he is well known in English literature through translations. He became popular because he wrote early detective stories. He is often called the father of the modern detective novel.

Before Gaboriau, detective stories were not very systematic. He introduced:

·        logical investigation

·        professional detectives

·        careful study of clues

Because of this, later writers like Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) were influenced by him.

In English literature, Gaboriau is respected for:

·        shaping detective fiction

·        showing how crime can be solved through reason and logic

·        writing stories that combine suspense and psychology

His short stories, like “The Accursed House,” are also popular in English syllabi because they carry social messages and are easy to understand.

Major Works of Émile Gaboriau

1. L’AffaireLerouge (The Lerouge Case)

·        His first famous detective novel

·        Introduces a detective who solves crime using logic

·        Considered a milestone in detective fiction

2. Monsieur Lecoq

·        His most famous novel

·        Features a professional detective

·        Shows how intelligence and observation help solve crimes

3. The Mystery of Orcival

·        A murder mystery

·        Focuses on hidden secrets and careful investigation

4. The Accursed House

·        A short story

·        Not a detective story

·        A satire on society

·        Shows how people distrust kindness and believe rumours

The Accursed House – Summary

A young man inherits a big house from his uncle.

The house has many tenants who pay high rent. The new owner is kind by nature. He feels that the rent is too high, so he decides to reduce the rent for everyone.

When the tenants hear this news, instead of feeling happy, they become suspicious. They think, “Why would a landlord reduce rent?”

They start believing that something is wrong with the house. Some think the house is haunted, some think it may collapse, and others think a crime has happened there.

Rumours spread very fast. Fear increases. One by one, the tenants leave the house. Soon, the house becomes completely empty. Even new tenants refuse to live there because the house gets the name “The Accursed House.”

In the end, the landlord’s good intention fails. His kindness creates fear instead of happiness. The house remains deserted.

Message of the Story

The story shows that people do not always trust kindness. Sometimes, when something good happens suddenly, people suspect it instead of accepting it. Fear and rumours can destroy peace and happiness.

 

Pragmatics in Computational Linguistics

 Pragmatics in Computational Linguistics

1. Introduction

Language does not fully express everything we mean. The actual intention of a speaker is much deeper than the literal words spoken. According to Levinson, an utterance is not a perfect snapshot of the scene it describes, but only a sketch of the speaker’s intention.

This difference between what is said and what is meant, and how listeners fill the gap using context, forms the basis of Pragmatics.

In simple words:

Pragmatics is the study of how meaning changes depending on context, intentions, shared knowledge, and social situations.

Thus, pragmatics explores:

·      Why we often mean more than we say

·      How listeners understand the hidden meanings

·      How context shapes interpretation

2. Modeling Context – Common Ground

Pragmatics depends on a shared understanding between the speakers and the listeners called common ground or conversational record, introduced by Stalnaker .

What is Common Ground?

The common ground is the set of propositions that all participants agree are true for the sake of the conversation.

It includes:

·      World knowledge (facts, culture)

·      Information about speakers (identity, relations)

·      Physical & situational context (time, place, objects present)

·      Previous utterances in the conversation

Stalnaker explains that language updates the common ground, and the common ground guides the interpretation of language. They affect each other continuously.

3. Context Dependence

Many linguistic expressions change meaning with the situation. For example, the words - I, here, now, she, tomorrow. Their meaning depends on who speaks, when, and where.

Example

“I am feeding the dogs now.”

 To interpret this, we must know:

·      Who is “I” (a common man, an actor, a prime minister)

·      What location counts as “here” (where food is a scarcity?)

·      What time is “now” (when the dog is hungry?)

Thus, context controls interpretation. This makes pragmatics essential.

4. Gricean Pragmatics – Cooperative Principle

H. P. Grice explained that conversations work because both listener and speaker cooperate to understand each other. He defined the Cooperative Principle, supported by four conversational maxims. Grice said that conversation works smoothly because speakers and listeners cooperate.
Even when we do not say everything directly, we assume the other person is trying to be helpful and meaningful.

Grice explained this cooperation through four conversational maxims – Quality, Quantity, Relation, Manner.

1. Maxim of Quality (Truth)

Rule: Do not say what you believe is false or for which you have no evidence.

Example (Following the maxim):

A: “Is it raining outside?”
B: “Yes, I just came in and it’s raining.”

Example (Violating the maxim):

B: “Yes, it’s raining.” (when it is actually sunny)

Meaning: We expect speakers to tell the truth.

2. Maxim of Quantity (Information)

Rule: Say as much as needed—no more, no less.

Example (Following the maxim):

A: “Where do you live?”
B: “In Ahmedabad.”

Too little information:

B: “Somewhere in Gujarat.”

Too much information:

B: “In Ahmedabad, near the river, third floor, blue building…”

Meaning: Give exactly the required amount of information.

3. Maxim of Relation (Relevance)

Rule: Be relevant to the topic.

Example (Following the maxim):

A: “Did you finish the assignment?”
B: “Yes, I submitted it this morning.”

Violating the maxim:

A: “Did you finish the assignment?”

B: “The weather is very hot today.”

Meaning: Responses should stay connected to the conversation.

4. Maxim of Manner (Clarity)

Rule: Be clear, brief, and orderly. Avoid confusion and ambiguity.

Clear answer:

A: “How do I reach the office?”
B: “Go straight, take the second left, and you’ll see it.”

Unclear answer:

B: “Well, you know, there’s a road and something like a turn…”

Meaning: Speak clearly and simply.

 

One Combined Example (All Maxims Working Together)

A: “Where is the library?”
B: “It’s on the ground floor, next to the NCC office.”

✔ Quality – True information
✔ Quantity – Just enough detail
✔ Relation – Relevant answer
✔ Manner – Clear and simple

5. Conversational Implicature

An implicature occurs when the speaker implies something without saying it directly. It can be Context-dependent. The implied meaning depends on the situation and background knowledge.

Example:

Teacher: “Is Rohan regular in class?”

Colleague: “He attends on most days.”

Implied meaning: Rohan is not very regular.

6. Dimensions of Meaning

Potts explains that utterances often express multiple layers of meaning at once.

Example:

“Rima finally finished the stupid report.”

 Primary meaning: Rita finished the report.

 Secondary meaning: Speaker is emotional/frustrated/excited.

 

Characteristics of secondary meanings:

·      They survive negation, questions, and conditions.

·      They are often presupposed (background assumptions).

Example:

“Sam broke his skateboard.”

 Presupposition: Sam has a skateboard.

If someone objects, they may say:

“Wait, I didn’t know Sam had a skateboard!”

This challenges the presupposition, not the main claim.

7. Speech Acts

Speech act theory classifies utterances based on what action they perform:

·      Assertives (state facts)

·      Directives (command or request)

·      Commissives (promises)

·      Expressives (emotions)

·      Declaratives (social change: “I now pronounce you…”)

However, the same grammatical structure may perform different speech acts depending on context.

Example (Imperative “Have a seat”):

Can be a request, order, or invitation depending on situation and power relations .

Thus, speech act force is not fixed by sentence form alone, but determined by shared knowledge and context.

8. Conclusion

Pragmatics explains how meaning goes beyond grammar and dictionary definitions. It studies:

·      How context shapes meaning

·      How we infer intentions

·      How speakers manage shared understanding

How subtle meanings like emotions, politeness, presuppositions, and implicatures arise

Because real communication is full of indirect meanings, ambiguity, and social signals, pragmatics is essential in:

·      Human communication analysis

·      Computational linguistics (NLP, AI)

·      Machine learning for chatbots & speech systems

·      Language teaching and stylistics

In short, Pragmatics reveals how language truly works: not just in words, but in minds, situations, and relationships.

Character Sketch of The Giant in 'The Selfish Giant' by Oscar Wilde

Introduction

Oscar Wilde’s short story The Selfish Giant presents the central character of the Giant as a powerful moral symbol. The Giant is not merely a fairy-tale figure but a representation of human weakness and moral growth. Through the Giant’s journey from selfishness to selflessness, Wilde teaches readers an important lesson about love, kindness, and sharing. The Giant’s character is dynamic, meaning he changes significantly during the course of the story.

The Giant as a Selfish and Cruel Man

At the beginning of the story, the Giant is portrayed as extremely selfish, harsh, and unkind. He owns a large and beautiful garden filled with green grass, colourful flowers, and fruit trees. However, he does not allow the village children to play in it. When he returns from a long visit to his friend, the Cornish ogre, and finds children playing in his garden, he becomes angry. He scolds them and drives them away. To ensure that no child enters again, he builds a high wall around the garden and places a notice board which reads, “Trespassers will be prosecuted.” This act clearly shows his possessive nature and lack of compassion. The Giant believes that what belongs to him should be enjoyed by him alone.

The Cold Garden as a Symbol of the Giant’s Heart

The Giant’s selfish behaviour has consequences. After the children are driven away, Spring does not visit the garden. While the rest of the countryside enjoys warmth, flowers, and birdsong, the Giant’s garden remains cold and lifeless. Snow covers the grass, frost paints the trees silver, and the North Wind roars angrily. Hail damages the flowers, and even the birds refuse to sing. This unnatural condition continues throughout the year. Wilde uses the cold garden as a powerful symbol of the Giant’s heart. Just as the garden lacks warmth and life, the Giant’s heart is empty of love, kindness, and sympathy.

The Turning Point in the Giant’s Life

A major change occurs in the Giant’s life when he notices one day that Spring has finally entered his garden. Through a small hole in the wall, the children have managed to come back. Trees are blossoming again wherever children are playing. However, in one corner of the garden, Winter still remains. The Giant sees a small boy standing under a tree, crying because he is too little to climb it. This scene touches the Giant deeply. For the first time, he feels pity and compassion. He realizes that his selfishness has kept Spring away and has caused suffering not only to others but also to himself.

The Giant’s Moral Awakening

Moved by kindness, the Giant gently lifts the small boy and places him in the tree. Immediately, the tree blossoms and birds begin to sing. This moment marks the Giant’s moral awakening. He understands that love and generosity bring happiness, while selfishness leads to loneliness. Filled with remorse, the Giant knocks down the wall of his garden. He declares that the garden now belongs to the children. From that day onwards, the Giant becomes their friend and allows them to play freely.

The Kind and Loving Giant

After his transformation, the Giant is no longer selfish or cruel. He becomes kind, friendly, and generous. Every afternoon after school, the children come to play in his garden, and the Giant watches them with joy. His garden becomes the most beautiful place in the area, full of flowers, birds, and laughter. Although the little boy whom he helped does not return for a long time, the Giant often thinks about him with love and concern. This shows that the Giant has developed a truly caring heart.

Spiritual Redemption and the Christ-like Child

Towards the end of the story, when the Giant grows old and weak, he sees the little boy again standing under a tree covered with white blossoms. The Giant notices wounds on the child’s hands and feet. When he asks about them, the child reveals that they are the marks of love. The boy then invites the Giant to his garden, which is Paradise. This moment clearly presents the child as a Christ-like figure. The Giant’s death under the tree symbolizes his spiritual redemption and eternal peace.

Conclusion

“Where there is love there is life.” The Giant is a dynamic character who undergoes a complete moral and spiritual transformation. He begins as a selfish and cruel man but ends as a symbol of love, kindness, and redemption. Through the Giant, Oscar Wilde conveys the message that true happiness lies in sharing, compassion, and love for others. The story beautifully reminds readers that where there is love, there is life.

 

SEMANTICS IN COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS

 SEMANTICS IN COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS

1) What is Semantics?

Semantics is the study of meaning in language.
Other parts of linguistics study sounds (phonetics/phonology) or structure (syntax), words (morphology) but semantics asks:

·      What does a word or sentence mean?

·      How do we understand the idea behind the words?

Example:
“Rita opened the window.”
From this, we understand:

• Rita = the one who did the action
• opened = the action
• window = the thing affected

Semantics studies how these meanings are created.

2) Semantics Vs Syntax Vs Pragmatics

• Syntax = how words are arranged
• Semantics = what the words mean
• Pragmatics = meaning from context or intention

Example:
“Can you pass the salt?”

·        Semantic meaning: Are you able to pass it?

·        Pragmatic meaning: Please give me the salt.

3) Sentential Semantics: Meaning of Whole Sentences

Sentential semantics studies how entire sentences carry meaning. To be clear and precise, semantics often uses logic (because computers understand logic better than natural language).

Example:
“Pragnanadha played a Russian.”
This means:

·        There is a Russian person

·        Pragnanadha played that person (in chess)

Logical meaning helps computers answer questions like:

·        Who played whom?

·        Was the opponent Russian?

So, sentential semantics converts sentences into exact meanings.

Ambiguity in Sentences

Sentential semantics studies ambiguity (when a sentence has more than one meaning).

Example:
Visiting relatives can be boring.

Possible meanings:

1.   Relatives who visit can be boring.

2.   The act of visiting relatives can be boring.

4) Compositional / Lexical Semantics: Meaning from Word Parts

Compositional semantics says:

The meaning of a sentence comes from the meanings of its words + grammar.

Example:
“Every student danced.”

·        “student” = group

·        “every” = all

·        “danced” = action

Change one word and the meaning changes:

·        Some students danced

·        No student danced

·        Every teacher danced

This shows how small word changes cause big meaning changes.

 

5) Discourse Semantics: Meaning Across Sentences

Meaning does not come sentence by sentence only. It flows across paragraphs and conversations.

Example:
“A girl entered the room. She sat down.”
We know “she” = the girl.

Discourse semantics studies:

·        How pronouns refer back

·        How information continues

·        How meaning stays connected

Scientists use a model called DRT (Discourse Representation Theory) that works like a memory box storing people, objects, and events, so future sentences can refer to them.

How DRT works (Memory Box idea):

Sentence 1: A man entered a room.
→ DRT stores in its memory box:

·        Person: a man

·        Event: entering

·        Place: a room

Sentence 2: He sat on a chair.

·      The pronoun he looks into the memory box

·      Finds a man Place: a room

·      Correctly understands who “he” refers to

6) Event and Temporal Semantics: Meaning with Time and Actions

Many sentences describe events happening in time.

Example:
“Rahul kicked the ball yesterday.”
Event = kicked
Person = Rahul
Object = ball
Time = yesterday

Semantic analysis must capture all of these.

Time meanings (Tense)

·        She sings → now

·        She sang → past

·        She will sing → future

·        She had sung → completed earlier

Temporal semantics helps in understanding stories, news, and sequences of events.

 

7) Deep vs Shallow Semantics

Computational linguistics uses two types of meaning analysis.

Deep Semantics

·        Uses logic and detailed meaning

·        Very accurate

·        Slow and complex
Like reading a text carefully.

Shallow Semantics

·        Uses keyword matching or statistics

·        Fast

·        Not always accurate
Like quickly skimming a text.

Example:
“I don’t like chess anymore.”
A shallow system sees “like” → thinks it’s positive.
A deep system sees “don’t” + “anymore” → understands dislike.

Modern AI combines both for better performance.

 

Conclusion

Semantics is the study of meaning. It helps us understand:

• what words refer to
• who does what
• when actions happen
• how sentences connect
• how meaning changes with context

Semantics is essential for:

• translation
• chatbots
• Siri/Google Assistant
• question answering
• text understanding

Without semantics, computers can talk, but they can’t understand.