K-Embeddings: Learning Conceptual Embeddings for Words using Context

Abstract

We describe a technique for adding contextual distinctions to word embeddings by extending the usual embedding process — into two phases. The first phase resembles existing methods, but also constructs K classifications of concepts. The second phase uses these classifications in developing refined K embeddings for words, namely word K-embeddings. The technique is iterative, scalable, and can be combined with other methods (including Word2Vec) in achieving still more expressive representations. Experimental results show consistently large performance gains on a Semantic-Syntactic Word Relationship test set for different K settings. For example, an overall gain of 20% is recorded at K = 5. In addition, we demonstrate that an iterative process can further tune the embeddings and gain an extra 1% (K = 10 in 3 iterations) on the same benchmark. The examples also show that polysemous concepts are meaningfully embedded in our K different conceptual embeddings for words.