Making meaning with be able to: modality and actualisation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
BENOÎT LECLERCQ ◽  
ILSE DEPRAETERE
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
General Assumption ◽  
Conversational Implicature ◽  
Making Meaning ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
National Corpus ◽  
Main Distinguishing Feature

This article sheds new light on the usage constraints of be able to, by combining empirical evidence from the British National Corpus (BNC, Davies 2004–) with theoretical insights on the semantics–pragmatics interface. First, we show that be able to does not, contrary to the general assumption, express only ‘ability’ but it shares most of the root meanings usually associated with the possibility modals can and could (Coates 1983: 124). The data analysis shows that what is called ‘opportunity’ in Depraetere & Reed's (2011) taxonomy is the most frequent meaning of be able to. We then turn to the notion of actualisation, which is often claimed to be the main distinguishing feature between be able to and can/could. The qualitative analysis of the BNC dataset provides the empirical evidence, lacking in previous research, for the claim that actualisation is indeed a defining property of the modal periphrastic form. Starting from a reassessment of the semantics–pragmatics interface in terms of a fourfold distinction, we argue that actualisation is a generalised conversational implicature and constitutes conventional pragmatic meaning (that is, conventional non-truth-conditional meaning).

What dialog is absent from constructed dialog?

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-157
Author(s):  
Christoph Rühlemann
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Methods ◽  
Basic Function ◽  
Quantitative Comparison ◽  
Direct Speech ◽  
Conversational Storytelling ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods ◽  
Speech Situation ◽  
National Corpus

Abstract This paper is concerned with constructed dialog in conversational storytelling. Based on Clark & Gerrig’s (1990) demonstration theory, its focus is on what is absent from constructed dialog. To determine what is absent, a comparison is made between constructed dialog tokens and utterances in conversation. The inquiry uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. It is based on the Narrative Corpus (NC; Rühlemann & O’Donnell 2012), a corpus of conversational narratives extracted from the conversational component of the British National Corpus (BNC), and its systematic annotation of constructed dialog (that is, direct speech introduced by a quotative and free direct speech without any introducer). The quantitative comparison of verbalizations used in constructed dialog as opposed to verbalizations used in conversational utterances demonstrates that a particular utterance type is significantly missing from constructed dialog: the continuer utterance, whose basic function is to exhibit an understanding that a form of ‘telling’ by another speaker is going on. The qualitative analysis, based on a subset of storytellings from the NC that were re-analyzed acoustically and re-transcribed using Jeffersonian conventions based on the Audio BNC (Coleman et al. 2012), reveals a stark mismatch between the commonness of tellings in talk-in-interaction and their uncommonness in constructed dialog. The absence of continuers from constructed dialog is discussed against the backdrop of indexicality. I argue that continuers share the key properties of indexicals – semantic vacuity and an existential relationship with the ‘thing’ indicated – and can therefore be seen as indexicals themselves. As indexicals, intrinsically connected to the speech situation of their utterance, continuers cannot be included in constructed dialog, which typically occurs in a different speech situation with different interactional parameters. Finally, I offer initial thoughts on the underrepresentation of telling sequences in constructed dialog.

Informativeness is a determinant of compound stress in English

2012 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 485-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
MELANIE J. BELL ◽  
INGO PLAG
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Probabilistic Model ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stress Assignment ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Stress Variability ◽  
Morphological Family ◽  
National Corpus

There have been claims in the literature that the variability of compound stress assignment in English can be explained with reference to the informativeness of the constituents (e.g. Bolinger 1972, Ladd 1984). Until now, however, large-scale empirical evidence for this idea has been lacking. This paper addresses this deficit by investigating a large number of compounds taken from the British National Corpus. It is the first study of compound stress variability in English to show that measures of informativeness (the morphological family sizes of the constituents and the constituents' degree of semantic specificity) are indeed highly predictive of prominence placement. Using these variables as predictors, in conjunction with other factors believed to be relevant (see Plag et al. 2008), we build a probabilistic model that can successfully assign prominence to a given construction. Our finding, that the more informative constituent of a compound tends to be most prominent, fits with the general propensity of speakers to accentuate important information, and can therefore be interpreted as evidence for an accentual theory of compound stress.

scholarly journals Emotions for Artists: Intregrating two Textual Analysis Techniques in a Qualitative Perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sônia Maria Guedes Gondim ◽  
Pedro Fernando Bendassolli ◽  
Lilia Bittencourt Silva ◽  
Iago Andrade Carias ◽  
Franciane Andrade de Morais ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Textual Analysis ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Theoretical System ◽  
Open Coding ◽  
Theoretical Frame ◽  
Complex Phenomena

Abstract This study aimed to show, by empirical evidence, that using different techniques of data analysis can contribute to the production of complementary knowledge about complex phenomena, such as emotions. The article discusses the results derived from using two textual analysis techniques and their articulation. Its main contribution is methodological, specifically in qualitative analysis supported by software. The study included 517 artists working in various artistic sectors, such as music and theater. ALCESTE and ATLAS.ti were used in the analysis. Results suggest convergences or complementarities between these two techniques. While ATLAS.ti allows for a dialogue between data and theory, through open coding, for better alignment between categorical theoretical system and data, ALCESTE organizes data in classes or categories, through calculations of word co-occurrence, which requires a theoretical frame to give them meaning.

scholarly journals COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH WITH REFERENCE TO THE CORPUS-BASED DATA ANALYSIS BY TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGE (THE CASE OF TENSE-ASPECT FORMS OF THE VERB)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-168
Author(s):  
Arsentiy I. Bochkarev ◽  
◽  
Sergey S. Zhdanov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
British English ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
Oriented Approach ◽  
National Corpus

The paper deals with the frequency of tense-aspect forms in British English for justifying the selec-tion of language phenomena from the linguistic point of view. This approach is applied through educa-tional process at universities. Moreover, communicative oriented approach to language education should be based on this selection. It presupposes educational orientation to real communicative situa-tions. Based on analyzing corpus data from the British National Corpus all tense-aspect forms can be divided into four groups: rare, occasional, frequent and constant. The authors have made the algorithm for learning tense-aspect forms in British English based on the frequency of these forms.

scholarly journals Skinny, Slim, dan Thin: Analisis Berbasis Korpus Kata Sifat Identik dan Implikasinya pada Pengajaran Bahasa Inggris

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Millatul Islamiyah ◽  
Muchamad Sholakhuddin Al Fajri
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Metaphorical Meaning ◽  
Analysis Instrument ◽  
Idiomatic Expressions ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
National Corpus

This paper is an exploratory corpus-based investigation into a group of near synonymous adjectives: skinny, slim, and thin. It employs the British National Corpus (BNC) as data and Sketch Engine as data analysis instrument. By using corpus linguistics techniques such as concordance and collocation analysis, it compares the synonymous words’ usage, meaning, and pattern to identify which synonymous words are more appropriate in a certain context. The results suggest that thin has neutral nuance expression and slim tends to carry positive connotation, while skinny is often used by speakers when they want to be more pejorative or deprecating. Moreover, unlike skinny which mainly modifies animate-related nouns, slim is more heterogeneous as they also can modify inanimate-related nouns and when it collocates with inanimate nouns, it often extends its’ meaning into metaphor expression which means ‘small’. Thin is used in many idiomatic expressions and when combined with common words it can also be used to denote metaphorical meaning. These findings can be applied in English language teaching so that students will be able to use the synonymous adjectives in an apt context and to avoid undesirable implication. ABSTRAKPenelitian ini adalah analisis berbasis korpus pada kelompok kata sifat yang hampir sama: “skinny”, “slim”, dan “thin”. Penelitian ini menggunakan British National Corpus (BNC) sebagai data dan Sketch Engine sebagai instrumen analisis data. Dengan menggunakan teknik linguistik korpus seperti konkordansi dan analisis kolokasi, artikel ini membandingkan penggunaan, makna, dan pola kata sinonim untuk mengidentifikasi kata-kata sinonim yang lebih tepat dalam konteks tertentu. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa “thin” memiliki ekspresi nuansa netral dan “slim” cenderung membawa konotasi positif, sementara “skinny” sering digunakan oleh pembicara ketika mereka ingin lebih merendahkan atau mencela. Selain itu, tidak seperti “skinny” yang banyak memodifikasi nomina yang berhubungan dengan benda hidup, “slim” lebih heterogen karena mereka juga dapat memodifikasi nomina yang tidak hidup dan ketika ia bertaut dengan kata benda tak hidup, ia sering memperluas maknanya menjadi ekspresi metafora yang berarti “small”/kecil. “Thin” digunakan dalam banyak ekspresi idiomatis dan ketika dikombinasikan dengan kata-kata umum, “thin” juga dapat digunakan untuk menunjukkan makna metaforis. Temuan ini dapat diterapkan dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris sehingga siswa akan dapat menggunakan kata sifat sinonim dalam konteks yang tepat dan untuk menghindari implikasi yang tidak diinginkan.

Analisis Efektivitas Distribusi Zakat Produktif Dalam Meningkatkan Kesejahteraan Mustahik (Studi Kantor Cabang Rumah Zakat Sumatera Utara)

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Mulkan Syah Riza
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
North Sumatra ◽  
Descriptive Method ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

This study aims to explain how the distribution of productive zakat in the Rumah Zakat North Sumatra and how the effectiveness of productive zakat distribution in improving the welfare of mustahik in the Rumah Zakat North Sumatra. This study uses a qualitative approach with a type of descriptive method, which is a problem that guides researchers to explore and photograph situations that will be thoroughly investigated, broadly and deeply. Data collection techniques with field research, while the tools used are observation, interviews and documentation. Data analysis used is descriptive qualitative analysis. The results of this study inform that in distributing productive zakat funds, Rumah Zakat is in accordance with Law No. 23 of 2011 concerning Management of Zakat. The distribution of productive zakat carried out by the Rumah Zakat North Sumatra through the Senyum Mandiri Program to mustahik in Medan Helvetia Subdistrict has been effective, because it can improve the welfare of mustahik, this is evidenced by the income of eight of thirteen mustahik people in total, five people whose income is fixed and four out of eight people whose income has increased has reached the level of muzaki.

“That’s well good”: A Re-emergent Intensifier in Current British English

2020 ◽  
pp. 007542422097914
Author(s):  
Karin Aijmer
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Fourteenth Century ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
British English ◽  
Discourse Marker ◽  
Time Gap ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Semantic Types ◽  
Over Time ◽  
National Corpus

Well has a long history and is found as an intensifier already in older English. It is argued that diachronically well has developed from its etymological meaning (‘in a good way’) on a cline of adverbialization to an intensifier and to a discourse marker. Well is replaced by other intensifiers in the fourteenth century but emerges in new uses in Present-Day English. The changes in frequency and use of the new intensifier are explored on the basis of a twenty-year time gap between the old British National Corpus (1994) and the new Spoken British National Corpus (2014). The results show that well increases in frequency over time and that it spreads to new semantic types of adjectives and participles, and is found above all in predicative structures with a copula. The emergence of a new well and its increase in frequency are also related to social factors such as the age, gender, and social class of the speakers, and the informal character of the conversation.

scholarly journals Inclusion, Contrast and Polysemy in Dictionaries: The Relationship between Theory, Language Use and Lexicographic Practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-340
Author(s):  
Anu Koskela
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Lexical Item ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Lexical Items ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
National Corpus

This paper explores the lexicographic representation of a type of polysemy that arises when the meaning of one lexical item can either include or contrast with the meaning of another, as in the case of dog/bitch, shoe/boot, finger/thumb and animal/bird. A survey of how such pairs are represented in monolingual English dictionaries showed that dictionaries mostly represent as explicitly polysemous those lexical items whose broader and narrower readings are more distinctive and clearly separable in definitional terms. They commonly only represented the broader readings for terms that are in fact frequently used in the narrower reading, as shown by data from the British National Corpus.  

Commentary: A Qualitative Analysis of Newspaper Polls

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
David Pearce Demers
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Long Run ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Scientific Standards ◽  
And Training

Previous research and this study's data suggest newspaper polls often fall short of “scientific” standards. Part of the problem is that many newspapers rely heavily on their news staff for many key aspects in the research process, including data analysis. News organizations are encouraged to rely more on “experts,” but for the long run they need to implement programs and policies that give journalists themselves the education and training necessary to handle all phases of the research process.

A Corpora-Based Analysis of Rely on and Depend on

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21
Author(s):  
Namkil Kang
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
American English ◽  
The Other ◽  
Information State ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
National Corpus

The ultimate goal of this paper is to provide a comparative analysis of rely on and depend on in the Corpus of Contemporary American English and the British National Corpus. The COCA clearly shows that the expression rely on government is the most preferred by Americans, followed by rely on people, and rely on data. The COCA further indicates that the expression depend on slate is the most preferred by Americans, followed by depend on government, and depend on people. The BNC shows, on the other hand, that the expression rely on others is the most preferred by the British, followed by rely on people, and rely on friends. The BNC further indicates that depend on factors and depend on others are the most preferred by the British, followed by depend on age, and depend on food. Finally, in the COCA, the nouns government, luck, welfare, people, information, state, fossil, water, family, oil, food, and things are linked to both rely on and depend on, but many nouns are not still linked to both of them. On the other hand, in the BNC, only the nouns state, chance, government, and others are linked to both rely on and depend on, but many nouns are not still linked to both rely on and depend on. It can thus be inferred from this that rely on is slightly different from depend on in its use.

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