This collection investigates the mechanisms of local discourse structure through the lens of Centering Theory, a framework designed to model how entities are tracked across sentences. The editors, Aravind K. Joshi, Ellen F. Prince, and Marilyn A. Walker, are prominent figures in computational linguistics who curate a series of papers that bridge the gap between theoretical linguistics and cognitive modeling. By prioritizing empirical analysis of naturally occurring data, the volume argues for a more rigorous, data-driven approach to understanding how coherence is maintained in human communication.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational text for researchers interested in the formalization of discourse structure. Readers frequently note the technical density of the prose, which is intended for an audience already familiar with computational linguistics and cognitive science research.