Beyond Base Predictors: Using LLMs to Resolve Ambiguities in Akkadian Lemmatization

Frederick Riemenschneider


Abstract
We present a hybrid approach for Akkadian lemmatization in the EvaCun 2025 Shared Task that combines traditional NLP techniques with large language models (LLMs). Our system employs three Base Predictors–a dictionary lookup and two T5 models–to establish initial lemma candidates. For cases where these pre-dictors disagree (18.72% of instances), we im-plement an LLM Resolution module, enhanced with direct access to the electronic Babylonian Library (eBL) dictionary entries. This module includes a Predictor component that generates initial lemma predictions based on dictionary information, and a Validator component that refines these predictions through contextual rea-soning. Error analysis reveals that the system struggles most with small differences (like cap-italization) and certain ambiguous logograms (like BI). Our work demonstrates the benefits of combining traditional NLP approaches with the reasoning capabilities of LLMs when provided with appropriate domain knowledge.
Anthology ID:
2025.alp-1.30
Volume:
Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Ancient Language Processing
Month:
May
Year:
2025
Address:
The Albuquerque Convention Center, Laguna
Editors:
Adam Anderson, Shai Gordin, Bin Li, Yudong Liu, Marco C. Passarotti, Rachele Sprugnoli
Venues:
ALP | WS
SIG:
Publisher:
Association for Computational Linguistics
Note:
Pages:
226–231
Language:
URL:
https://preview.aclanthology.org/moar-dois/2025.alp-1.30/
DOI:
10.18653/v1/2025.alp-1.30
Bibkey:
Cite (ACL):
Frederick Riemenschneider. 2025. Beyond Base Predictors: Using LLMs to Resolve Ambiguities in Akkadian Lemmatization. In Proceedings of the Second Workshop on Ancient Language Processing, pages 226–231, The Albuquerque Convention Center, Laguna. Association for Computational Linguistics.
Cite (Informal):
Beyond Base Predictors: Using LLMs to Resolve Ambiguities in Akkadian Lemmatization (Riemenschneider, ALP 2025)
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PDF:
https://preview.aclanthology.org/moar-dois/2025.alp-1.30.pdf