Investigating Language Use Through Corpusbased Analyses of Association Patterns

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Biber
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Association Patterns ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Empirical Approaches

The present paper argues that analyses of language use provide an important complementary perspective to traditional linguistic descriptions, and that empirical approaches are required for such investigations. Corpus-based techniques are particularly well suited to these research purposes, enabling investigation of research questions that were previously disregarded. Specifically, the paper discusses the use of corpus-based techniques to identify and analyze complex "association patterns": the systematic ways in which linguistic features are used in association with other linguistic and non-linguistic features. Several illustrative analyses are discussed, investigating the use of lexical features, grammatical features, and the overall patterns of variability among texts and registers.

Lexical priming in humorous satirical newspaper headlines

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Skalicky
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
American English ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Lexical Priming ◽  
Corpus Linguistic ◽  
Linguistic Patterns ◽  
Linguistic Methods ◽  
Pragmatic Knowledge ◽  
Do So

Abstract Satire is a type of discourse commonly employed to mock or criticize a satirical target, typically resulting in humor. Current understandings of satire place strong emphasis on the role that background and pragmatic knowledge play during satire recognition. However, there may also be specific linguistic cues that signal a satirical intent. Researchers using corpus linguistic methods, specifically Lexical Priming, have demonstrated that other types of creative language use, such as irony, puns, and verbal jokes, purposefully deviate from expected language patterns (e.g. collocations). The purpose of this study is to investigate whether humorous satirical headlines also subvert typical linguistic patterns using the theory of Lexical Priming. In order to do so, a corpus of newspaper headlines taken from the satirical American newspaper The Onion are analyzed and compared to a generalized corpus of American English. Results of this analysis suggest satirical headlines exploit linguistic expectations through the use of low-frequency collocations and semantic preferences, but also contain higher discourse and genre level deviations that cannot be captured in the surface level linguistic features of the headlines.

Language choice and conversational repair in bilingual interaction

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Gafaranga
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Language Choice ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Additional Resource ◽  
Concurrent Use ◽  
Language Alternation ◽  
Conversational Repair ◽  
Research Questions

Research in code-switching, undertaken against the backdrop of very negative attitudes towards the concurrent use of two or more languages within the same conversation, has traditionally been geared towards rehabilitating this form of language use. Now that code-switching has been rehabilitated, the research tradition faces an entirely new challenge, namely that of its continued relevance. This book argues that, in order to overcome this challenge, research should aim to describe specific interactional practices involving the use of two or more languages and outlines a methodology for doing so. This chapter illustrates this methodology by means of a specific case study. The chapter describes the interactional practice of conversational repair in bilingual interaction. Two research questions are raised: (a) where in the repair sequence can language alternation occur and (b) what does language alternation do when it occurs in repair sequences. It is shown that language alternation interacts with repair organisation in two ways. Either language alternation is the focus of conversational repair or it is an additional resource for the organisation of conversational repair.

scholarly journals Linguistic Markers and Stylistic Attributes of Hedging in English Academic Papers Written by Native and Non-Native Speakers of English

MANUSYA ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Amara Prasithrathsint
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Linguistic Markers ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
English Academic Writing ◽  
The Impact

Hedging means mitigating words so as to lessen the impact of an utterance. It may cause uncertainty in language but is regarded as an important feature in English academic writing. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the style of academic writing in English with particular reference to the significant role of hedging and the linguistic features that mark it. The data was taken from academic articles in the humanities written by native speakers of English, Filipino speakers of English, and Thai speakers of English. It is hypothesized that speakers of English as a foreign language use fewer and different hedging devices than native speakers of English. The result of the analysis shows that the prominent linguistic markers of hedging are the auxiliaries may, might, could, the verbs suggest, appear, seem, and the adverbs perhaps and often. They are divided into three groups according to their stylistic attributes of hedging; namely, probability, indetermination, and approximation. The use of hedging found in the data confirms what Hyman (1994) says; i.e., that hedging allows writers to express their uncertainty about the truth of their statements. It is also found that English native speakers use hedges most frequently. The Filipino speakers of English are the second, and the Thai speakers of English use hedges the least frequency. This implies that hedging is likely to be related to the level of competence in English including knowledge of stylistic variation, and that it needs to be formally taught to those who speak English as a second or foreign language.

scholarly journals Small but Multi-functional: Response Tokens in Content Language Integrated Learning Interaction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Sabria Salama Jawhar
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Classroom Interaction ◽  
Integrated Learning ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Interactional Functions ◽  
The Relationship

This paper is an investigation of language use inside a content language integrated learning (CLIL) classroom at Saudi tertiary level. It examines the difference in language use between teachers and students in four subject-specific classrooms in which English is used as a medium of instruction. The study is informed by corpus linguistics (CL) and uses the principles and theoretical underpinning of conversation analysis (CA). It identifies the most frequent linguistic features of CLIL and examines their diverse interactional functions in this context. Amongst the most frequent linguistic features in CLIL are short response tokens such as “yes” and “no”. Using a micro-analytic approach to conversation analysis, a closer look at the data shows the students’ ability to use small and limited linguistic resources to accomplish multiple interactional functions such as taking the floor, taking turns and, most importantly, displaying orientation to knowledge. The data reflected the relationship between frequency and meaning construction. With regard to the difference in language use between teachers and students with regard to comes to short response tokens, the study shows some common interactional uses of response tokens between teachers and students, such as agreement, acknowledgement, response to confirmation checks and yes/no questions. On the other hand, it shows some exclusive interactional use of the same token by teachers and students. Finally, the paper emphasises the relationship of language, interaction and orientation to content knowledge in CLIL classrooms. Pedagogically, the findings have implications for teachers’ language use and for increased classroom interaction.

scholarly journals Surface Features of Code-switching in ‘The Nigerian Online Community’ Page on Facebook

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Layo Olaluwoye
Keyword(s):  
Online Community ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Functional Theory ◽  
Distinctive Features ◽  
Surface Features ◽  
Surface Errors ◽  
Code Mixing ◽  
Theory Of Language

Existing studies on code-switching have mainly been carried out among English/Chinese bilinguals. Studies on English/Yoruba/Pidgin English bilinguals with emphasis on code-mixing and code-switching on the Internet have been grossly insufficient. Therefore, this study reveals the surface features of code-switching among Yoruba/English/Pidgin English bilinguals in the Nigerian Online Community on Facebook. For theoretical framework, we relied on insights from Halliday’s (1994) functional theory of language.  Five types of surface features were identified: simplified lexicon and sentences, non-adherence to the use of tones/diacritics, inconsistencies of spellings and words, unnecessary lengthening of letters, and tolerance of surface errors. The study has revealed the distinctive features of code-switching in the Nigerian Online Community page on Facebook. These linguistic features have thrown more light on the characteristics of the language use on the Facebook forum and how the posters use the codes in their speech repertoire to achieve this

scholarly journals Sentence Length and Complexity in Hemingway's Short story : A Clean, Well-Lighted Place : A Stylistic study

لارك ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. 41-57
Author(s):  
Mazin Jasim Mohammed ◽  
Mohammed Hassan ◽  
Khalid Shamkhi
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Sentence Length ◽  
Literary Language ◽  
Legal Language ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Famous Book

    The term  style is somehow difficult to define . The difficulty arises from the fact that it is acquiring several interpretations . Such interpretations  might refer to abstract notions such as " style of deviations " ; or  " style is choice " or a distinct personality (the style of Shakespeare ) ; or to periods ( the baroque style )  and the like          ( Galperine , 1977:11).      Carter and Nashe  (1990:36)  argue that  style  can be recognized because it stands out in one way or another from a standard . This view simply means  style  can be seen as deviation . However , such a view cannot be taken for granted since norms are very difficult to standardize . Wales (1990 ) [quoted in Missikova ,2003] in her famous book  A Dictionary of Stylistics listed the most common characteristics of style as follows :     Style refers to the manner of expression in writing and speaking . Style can be seen as variation in language use , whether literary or non-literary . The term register is commonly used for such variations in linguistic features found in non-literary situations ,      such as legal language , advertising , etc. Style is seen as distinctive of register , genre or period. Style is defined in terms of choice of items , and their distribution and      patterning .    As deviation from a norm , style is a concept that is used traditionally in literary stylistics , since literary language is more deviant than non-literary language use .    To sum up , Warner (1961:1) ; Garvin (1964:112) go on to state that in spite of the different interpretations of the term  style , the simplest interpretation is that is a manner of expressing one's thoughts and feelings in words .

scholarly journals Erasmus-Erfahrungsberichte. Eine textlinguistische Analyse mit didaktischen Anmerkungen für den DaF-Unterricht

2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bies
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Function Structure ◽  
Everyday Language ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Intercultural Skills ◽  
Advice Giving ◽  
Text Types ◽  
Linguistic Level ◽  
Erasmus Programme

In this article exchange student testimonials (Erasmus Programme) are examined as text types. In this context function, structure, topics and selected linguistic features of the texts are focused. Analysis shows that the majority of the examined exchange student testimonials demonstrate many common features with advice giving texts. Regarding content, culture comparing topics are found as characteristic elements, and on the linguistic level, a frequent occurrence of elements of conceptual orality. These texts can therefore become relevant authentic teaching materials, as they are able to enhance knowledge of everyday language use and intercultural skills. Thus, the article concludes with didactic notes.

scholarly journals Salienz und Pertinenz – Zur subjektiven Dialektalität remanenter Regionalismen des Mittelbairischen

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolin Kiesewalter
Keyword(s):  
Speech Perception ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Language Variation And Change ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Regional Language ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Pure Awareness ◽  
Theoretical Issues

As we know, speech perception and production are strongly influenced by sign-specific "socio-pragmatic indexicality" (cf. Purschke 2014), that is, by the mental conceptions (of meaning, style etc.) people associate with individual linguistic features. I assume that, in German-speaking areas, the "subjective (notion of the) dialectality" of a non-standard feature represents a basic form of socio-pragmatic indexicality and is closely connected to language variation and change, in that the more regionalisms are regarded as non-standard features, the more they vary synchronically and diachronically. Following Purschke (2014), I define the subjective dialectality of regionalisms as being based on their feature-specific "salience" and "pertinence", that is, on both the pure awareness and further evaluation of such features as non-standard variants. A discussion of theoretical issues is followed by the presentation of empirical data from a speech perception study (in the style of Herrgen/Schmidt 1985). Scale-based judgments by Northern, Central and Southern German listeners provide evidence about the subjective dialectality of 15 Bavarian regionalisms. They further reveal how subjective dialectality is related to listeners' origins and regional language competence. Comparing the subjective data with two Bavarian speakers' language use reveals the relation between subjective dialectality and synchronic variation in the analysed regionalisms.

scholarly journals The Ideology of Language Purism in Online Interaction of Arabic Speakers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1684-1694
Author(s):  
Albatool Ahmad Alhazmi
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Language Ideology ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Online Interaction ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Global Language ◽  
Linguistic Purism

Recently, the critical relationship between ideology and discourse becomes one of the main issues discussed in a wide range of disciplines. Language ideology is described as a dynamic and inconsistent process that must be studied in its given context. This paper aimed to explore the sociolinguistic aspects of language ideology embedded in online interaction of Arabic speakers. The ideology of language purism was the focus of this study. Critical Discourse Analysis was employed as a theoretical framework to analyze the data. The study showed the dynamic nature of discourse and asserted interdiscursive indexing of linguistic purism ideology among Arabic speakers on Twitter. Three key ideological dimensions namely nationalism, modernity and humanity have been recognized from the data corpus. The data asserted considerable influence of people’s cultural ideologies related to Islamic and Arabic identities on their language use and attitude. Modernity was also indicated to be one of the central factors influencing speakers’ perception about their languages and language use. English was described as a global language to be used to fulfill various integrative, communicative, and affective functions in modern life. Speakers’ comments about normality and personality in language use asserted the role those ideological perceptions play in their attitudes towards language purism. The intertextual analysis of the discourse revealed several linguistic features of texts under study including reporting speech, voicing, and shifting. These features served various pragmatic and social functions in this context.

Simultaneity and the refusal to choose: The semiotics of Serbian youth identity on Facebook

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-423
Author(s):  
Rachel George
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
Language And Identity ◽  
Writing Systems ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Youth Identity ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Dominant Ideologies

AbstractAlthough the importance of linguistic simultaneity has long been recognized (Woolard 1998), the concept is underexamined in recent analyses of language use in globalized, digital contexts such as social media. Drawing from an analysis of everyday Facebook posts from youth in Belgrade, Serbia, the article proposes that recognizing four types of simultaneity—of linguistic features, indexical operations, effects, and scale—is key for making sense of social media utterances in political and historical context. On Facebook, Serbian youth mix languages and writing systems in complex ways, adhering to dominant ideologies of language and identity in some ways and flouting them in others. Using the Serbian case as a springboard, along with the four types of simultaneity proposed, I suggest a framework for analyzing language and identity on social media. (Serbia, indexicality, simultaneity, social media, superdiversity, bivalency, youth)*

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