A lexicon model for deep sentiment analysis and opinion mining applications

Abstract

This paper presents a lexicon model for the description of verbs, nouns and adjectives to be used in applications like sentiment analysis and opinion mining. The model aims to describe the detailed subjectivity relations that exist between the actors in a sentence expressing separate attitudes for each actor. Subjectivity relations that exist between the different actors are labeled with information concerning both the identity of the attitude holder and the orientation (positive vs. negative) of the attitude. The model includes a categorization into semantic categories relevant to opinion mining and sentiment analysis and provides means for the identification of the attitude holder and the polarity of the attitude and for the description of the emotions and sentiments of the different actors involved in the text. Special attention is paid to the role of the speaker/writer of the text whose perspective is expressed and whose views on what is happening are conveyed in the text. Finally, validation is provided by an annotation study that shows that these subtle subjectivity relations are reliably identifiable by human annotators. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.