This paper makes a case for a style of CALL in which learners engage in written ‘conversations’ with a computer, implemented by means of natural language processing techniques. These conversations involve using language as a tool for achieving goals through active communication rather than as the subject matter for language exercises. The paper goes on to discuss the design and implementation of prototype software developed to illustrate this approach, and reports on pilot observations of the software in use. However, many issues in the design and use of this approach remain to be clarified.

中文翻译：

---

CALL 中的自然语言处理：有目的的语言

本文提出了一种 CALL 风格的案例，在这种风格中，学习者通过自然语言处理技术与计算机进行书面“对话”。这些对话涉及使用语言作为通过积极沟通实现目标的工具，而不是作为语言练习的主题。本文继续讨论了为说明这种方法而开发的原型软件的设计和实施，并报告了对正在使用的软件的试点观察结果。然而，这种方法的设计和使用中的许多问题仍有待澄清。