Using natural language and stereotypical knowledge for acquisition of software models

The MOANA (model acquisition using natural-language) system is described. It uses a natural language dialog with the user to acquire formal software requirements. These requirements are represented in a number of modeling formalisms including graphical data-flow models and function models. In order to understand the user, MOANA uses knowledge about the structure and requirements of typical software systems. This knowledge is represented as a number of stereotypical software models. In a comparison of the software models produced by MOANA and those produced by a human software engineer, the MOANA models tend to be much more complete