Construction of causal networks through linguistic modelling

The general background of modelling and simulation is examined, mostly from the point of view of potential predictive capability. Linguistic modelling, a branch of qualitative modelling is outlined which has been evolved especially for the representation of human activity situations, not amenable to mathematical analysis. This modelling technique involves the use of natural language suitably processed by meaning-preserving transformations so as to make possible the application of propositional logic, leading to the use of the programming language, PROLOG. The method thus, operates according to precise rules, and its theoretical constituents are derived from a knowledge of grammar and linguistics. The method generates descriptions of situations which are capable of predicting the existence, or otherwise, of outcomes. These predictions, depending on the data available, can be made quantitative