Langform

Langform is a term used in linguistics and computational linguistics to denote a long-form representation of linguistic structures intended to preserve the full hierarchical and sequential information of utterances. Unlike compact analyses that emphasize surface form, Langform aims to encode long-range dependencies and contextual features within a single representation.

Core features typically include explicit hierarchical syntax mapping, extended feature tagging for morphology and discourse, and alignment with annotated corpora that retain cross-clausal dependencies. Langform representations are designed to be convertible to more common formats such as parse trees or dependency graphs, while maintaining long-range relations for downstream processing.

Applications include theoretical investigation of grammar formalisms, development of parsers and generation systems that must handle long-distance dependencies, and annotation schemes for corpora that bridge surface sentences and deep-structure analyses. In practice, Langform can serve as an intermediary representation used in research pipelines.

Challenges include higher computational and storage requirements, limited standardization, and the need for conversion tools to integrate with established NLP tools and benchmarks. Critics also argue that excessive complexity may yield diminishing returns for certain tasks.

Langform intersects with related concepts such as long-form transcription, rich feature representations, and established formalisms like Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (HPSG) and Lexical-Functional Grammar (LFG). It remains a descriptive term used in varying ways rather than a single, universally adopted theory.