Fluid-dynamic analysis of semantic fields in literary texts: the Reynolds number as a model of textual turbulence. This paper presents a semi-supervised system for identifying semantic fields in historical literary corpora, based on the concept of “semantic Reynolds number”. Drawing inspiration from fluid dynamics, the system models turbulence in textual context through a dimensionless number that determines whether semantic motion is laminar (theoretical, with definitions and essays) or turbulent (literary, with examples and dialogues). The value of the semantic Reynolds number guides the choice of adaptive contexts: in laminar regimes the system uses wide windows to capture complete definitions, while in turbulent regimes it adopts narrow windows to avoid noise from rapid scene changes. The methodology combines an offline BabelNet graph to ensure semantic precision and gloss similarity to retrieve distant senses, with a hybrid approach that balances automation and lexicographic expertise. Validated on Pirandello’s Umorismo (1908), the system identifies semantic fields and reduces manual research time from weeks to hours, providing a practical tool for the lexicographic analysis of literary works.
Questo contributo presenta un sistema semi-supervised per l’identificazione di campi semantici in corpora letterari storici basato sul concetto di “Reynolds semantico”. Traendo ispirazione dalla fluidodinamica, il sistema modella la turbolenza del contesto testuale attraverso un numero adimensionale che determina se il moto semantico A laminare (teorico, con definizioni e saggistica) o turbolento (letterario, con esempi e dialoghi). Il valore del Reynolds semantico guida la scelta di contesti adattivi: in regimi laminari il sistema utilizza finestre ampie per catturare definizioni complete, mentre in regimi turbolenti adotta finestre ristrette per evitare rumore da rapidi cambi di scena. La metodologia combina grafo BabelNet offline per garantire precision semantica e similarità glossa per recuperare accezioni distanti, con un approccio ibrido che bilancia automazione e expertise lessicografica. Validato su “L’Umorismo” di Pirandello (1908), il sistema identifica campi semantici e riduce il tempo di ricerca manuale da settimane a ore, fornendo uno strumento pratico per l’analisi lessicografica di opere letterarie.
Analisi fluidodinamica dei campi semantici in testi letterari: il Numero di Reynolds come modello di turbolenza testuale
PIETRO SICHERA
Primo
Writing – Review & Editing
;
2026
Abstract
Fluid-dynamic analysis of semantic fields in literary texts: the Reynolds number as a model of textual turbulence. This paper presents a semi-supervised system for identifying semantic fields in historical literary corpora, based on the concept of “semantic Reynolds number”. Drawing inspiration from fluid dynamics, the system models turbulence in textual context through a dimensionless number that determines whether semantic motion is laminar (theoretical, with definitions and essays) or turbulent (literary, with examples and dialogues). The value of the semantic Reynolds number guides the choice of adaptive contexts: in laminar regimes the system uses wide windows to capture complete definitions, while in turbulent regimes it adopts narrow windows to avoid noise from rapid scene changes. The methodology combines an offline BabelNet graph to ensure semantic precision and gloss similarity to retrieve distant senses, with a hybrid approach that balances automation and lexicographic expertise. Validated on Pirandello’s Umorismo (1908), the system identifies semantic fields and reduces manual research time from weeks to hours, providing a practical tool for the lexicographic analysis of literary works.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.


