RNN分类形式语言能力受嵌入精度和负样本策略影响,非单纯由表达力决定。
Precision, Stability, and Generalization: A Comprehensive Assessment of RNNs learnability capability for Classifying Counter and Dyck Languages
- RNN本质是状态机,语言能力依赖嵌入精度与负例采样策略。
- 正负例结构越相似,性能下降越明显;40长度内训练可泛化至500长度。
- O2RNN比LSTM更稳定,初始化方式影响结果但不改变核心结论。
本研究考察循环神经网络(RNN)在分类结构化形式语言(计数语言和Dyck语言)中的可学习性。传统观点认为一阶(LSTM)和二阶(O2RNN)RNN因在乔姆斯基层级中的理论表达力而有效,但本研究挑战这一认知,揭示RNN主要作为状态机运作,其语言能力受嵌入精度和负例采样策略显著影响。实验显示,当正负例结构相似度升高时,性能显著下降。令人惊讶的是,仅用单层RNN嵌入的分类器表现优于随机猜测。为评估泛化能力,模型在长度≤40的字符串上训练,测试长度41至500的字符串,使用10个独立种子确保统计稳健性。稳定性对比表明,O2RNN在多种场景下普遍优于LSTM。不同初始化策略的探索验证了假设的普适性。整体而言,该研究质疑了关于RNN计算能力的既有认知,强调数据结构与采样技术在评估神经网络语言分类潜力中的关键作用,指出仅靠表达力无法捕捉学习本质,更强的可表达性约束对理解真实可学习性至关重要。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
This study investigates the learnability of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) in classifying structured formal languages, focusing on counter and Dyck languages. Traditionally, both first-order (LSTM) and second-order (O2RNN) RNNs have been considered effective for such tasks, primarily based on their theoretical expressiveness within the Chomsky hierarchy. However, our research challenges this notion by demonstrating that RNNs primarily operate as state machines, where their linguistic capabilities are heavily influenced by the precision of their embeddings and the strategies used for sampling negative examples. Our experiments revealed that performance declines significantly as the structural similarity between positive and negative examples increases. Remarkably, even a basic single-layer classifier using RNN embeddings performed better than chance. To evaluate generalization, we trained models on strings up to a length of 40 and tested them on strings from lengths 41 to 500, using 10 unique seeds to ensure statistical robustness. Stability comparisons between LSTM and O2RNN models showed that O2RNNs generally offer greater stability across various scenarios. We further explore the impact of different initialization strategies revealing that our hypothesis is consistent with various RNNs. Overall, this research questions established beliefs about RNNs' computational capabilities, highlighting the importance of data structure and sampling techniques in assessing neural networks' potential for language classification tasks. It emphasizes that stronger constraints on expressivity are crucial for understanding true learnability, as mere expressivity does not capture the essence of learning.
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