1. A method of automatically producing bridging inferences that join two related input phrases, said method comprising: applying a lexicon and ontology data structure to a first input phrase to produce a first tagged input phrase; matching said first tagged input phrase to first rules; generating first inferred phrases from said first rules; matching said first inferred phrases to second rules; generating second inferred phrases from said second rules; applying said lexicon and ontology data structure to a second input phrase to produce a second tagged input phrase; selecting a first rule of said first rules and a second rule of said second rules that causes a second inferred phrase of said second inferred phrases to match said second tagged input phrase; and recording, as a bridging inference path, said first rule and said second rule.