NOTE: A reciprocal event is one in which actors are engaged in a mutual interaction. That is, the initial interaction between the source and target necessarily produces a second interaction between the target and the source. Thus, a minimum of two events must be coded to capture the relationship of the actors to one another during the event.
Single source and single target reciprocal event example
This example sentence codes to the event category, Discussions. Since this is a reciprocal event, the event category, Discussions, is linked to the event category, Discussions.
Original sentence: Officials from NATO will discuss aid with Yugoslavian representatives in Bonn on May 27, a German official said on Monday.
Initial coding: Officials from NATO will discuss aid with Yugoslavian representatives
Reciprocal event coding: Officials from NATO will discuss aid with Yugoslavian representatives
The initial coding identifies the discussion participants as they appear in the original sentence; thus, capturing the interaction between the source and target. The second (reciprocal) coding reverses the order of the discussion participants, therefore capturing the interaction between target and the source. The event category, Discussions, is reciprocally associated with Discussions.
