scholarly journals Trends and Recent Change in the Syntactic Distribution of Degree Modifiers: Implications for a Usage-based Theory of Word Classes

2021 ◽  
pp. 007542422199163
Author(s):  
Turo Vartiainen
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Recent Change ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Frequency Increase ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Degree Modifiers ◽  
Traditional Construction ◽  
Empirical Case Studies

This paper examines the syntactic distribution of degree modifiers in both spoken and written English. The results of the empirical case studies show that degree modifiers, both amplifiers (e.g., very, extremely) and downtoners (e.g., quite, pretty), are generally more often used in predication than in attribution, a result that is in line with earlier observations of the distribution of individual modifiers. This synchronic trend is also evident in diachronic developments: corpus data show that the recent frequency increase of intensifying this and that has largely taken place in predication, and the adjectivization of a class of -ed participles (e.g., interested, scared) can also be connected to their frequent co-occurrence with degree modifiers after be. Finally, the connection between degree modifiers and predicative usage has recently become stronger for a subset of modifiers (e.g., so, this, that) due to the decline of the “Big Mess” construction (e.g., so good an idea). From a theoretical perspective, this paper promotes a dynamic, usage-based model of word classes where frequency of use plays a role in categorization. The data investigated in the article are mainly discussed from the perspective of usage-based Construction Grammar, and the theoretical implications of the findings are examined both in light of a more traditional Construction Grammar network model of language and some recent ideas of overlapping word classes.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PENGGUNAAN ADJEKTIVA NOMINATIF DALAM BAHASA JEPANG (Berdasarkan Data Sintaksis Corpus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-105
Author(s):  
Dwi Puspitosari
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
The Other ◽  
Challenging Issue ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Japanese Learners

This study aims to identify nominative adjectives in Japanese that are difficult to categorize based on the occurred changes when these words are produced along with the other words. For non-native Japanese learners, this has become a challenging issue. The main reason is the adjective that was classified into two categories in accordance with their changes, i.e., i-adjectives and na-adjectives. These adjectives presented different forms of change that had a tendency of transforming into nouns when collaborating with other nouns. Not only did learners in elementary and secondary level face the difficulties, but also those in upper levels did. The data in this study focused on adjectives with a high frequency of use that were collected from "Gendai Nihongo Kakikotoba Kinko Koopasu". The data was analyzed based on the use of adjectives in sentences taken from the corpus data, which underwent different forms of changes. The results of this study indicated that there were many adjectives that underwent different forms of changes and could be classified into multiple word classes.   Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mngidentifikasi kata sifat-kata sifat yang bersifat nominatif dalam bahasa Jepang yang sulit dikategorikan berdasarkan perubahan saat berhadapan dengan kata lain. Bagi pembelajar bahasa Jepang non-native speaker, hal seperti ini merupakan permasalahan yang dirasa sulit. Alasannya adalah karena kata sifat yang menurut perubahannya diklasifikasikan menjadi dua yakni kata sifat -i dan kata sifat -na, mengalami perubahan yang tidak seragam dan cenderung menjadi nomina saat dihadapkan dengan nomina. Tidak hanya pada pembelajar tingkat dasar dan menengah, pembelajar tingkat atas pun mengalami kesulitan. Pada penelitian ini, data akan difokuskan pada kata sifat dengan frekuensi pemakaian yang tinggi dan dikumpukan dari “Gendai Nihongo Kakikotoba Kinko Koopasu”. Proses analisis data dilihat dari penggunaan kata sifat dalam kalimat diambil dari data corpus, yang mengalami perubahan tidak seragam. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan banyak kata sifat yang mengalami perubahan tidak seeragam dan dapat diklasifikasikan ke dalam kelas kata ganda.    

Three Perspectives on Swedish Indefinite Determiners

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joakim Nivre
Keyword(s):  
Historical Development ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Formal Semantic ◽  
Contrastive Analysis ◽  
Indefinite Article ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Swedish Data ◽  
The Way

This article investigates the meaning and use of singular indefinite determiners in Swedish, in particular the way in which the existential determiner någon/något contrasts with the indefinite article en/ett in different contexts. The problem is approached from three different perspectives, the first being a contrastive Scandinavian perspective, where the Swedish data are reviewed in the light of contrastive data from the closely related languages Danish and Norwegian. Secondly, corpus data are used to substantiate the results of the contrastive analysis both quantitatively and qualitatively. The last section adopts a more theoretical perspective and tries to present a formal semantic analysis of the two determiners under study, drawing on typological work on indefinites and studies of the historical development of indefinite determiners.

Grammaticalisation through constructions

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 159-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Ziegeler
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Gradual Development ◽  
Repeated Use ◽  
Verb Meaning ◽  
Diachronic Development ◽  
Over Time

Recent arguments by Langacker (2003) on the nature of verb meanings in constructions claim that such meanings are created by entrenchment and frequency of use, and only with repeated use can they become conventionalised and acceptable. Such a position raises the need for a diachronic perspective on Construction Grammar. The present paper investigates the evolution of constructions through the example of thehave-causative in English, which appears to have had its origins as a transfer verb in telic argument structure constructions. When the construction contains a transfer verb, construction meaning reinforces verb meaning and periphrastic causatives may grammaticalise as output; this is a gradual development over time. In one way, then, the verbhavegrammaticalises across a succession of constructions, but in another, the telic argument structure construction itself is seen to have a progressive diachronic development.

Data in Construction Grammar

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Th. Gries
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Experimental Data ◽  
Computational Linguistic ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Machine Learning Methods ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Corpus Data

This chapter examines the types of data used in constructionist approaches and the parameters along which data types can be classified. It discusses different kinds of quantitative observational/corpus data (frequencies, probabilities, association measures) and their statistical analysis. In addition, it provides a survey of a variety of different experimental data (novel word/construction learning, priming, sorting, etc.). Finally, the chapter discusses computational-linguistic/machine-learning methods as well as new directions for the development of new data and methods in Construction Grammar.

Stress in real time

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-486
Author(s):  
Klaus Hofmann
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Middle English ◽  
Left Hand ◽  
Right Hand ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Stress Patterns

Abstract This contribution reviews a series of studies by Kelly (and Bock), suggesting that stress preferences of English nouns and verbs for left-hand and right-hand stress patterns are partly a result of alternating rhythm in real utterances. This claim is tested on diachronic corpus data to verify its historical implications. By using verse evidence to calibrate stress values for historical word classes, the quantitative analysis confirms that distributional asymmetries regarding strong and weak syllables in the contexts of nouns and verbs have existed at least since Late Middle English. In addition, the claim that stem-final segments predict the likelihood of right-hand stress is not only confirmed but the effect is found to be independent of etymological origin.

Latviešu valodas apguvēju korpuss lietojumā: teorētisks un metodoloģisks ieskats

2021 ◽  
pp. 162-177
Author(s):  
Antra Kļavinska ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Corpus Linguistics ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Learner Corpus ◽  
Text Corpora ◽  
Learner Corpora ◽  
Corpus Data

Several text corpora have been created in Latvia, including learner corpora. One of the latest projects is the Latvian Language Learner Corpus (LaVA), which contains the works of international students studying in Latvian higher education institutions who are learning Latvian as a foreign language. The texts are morphologically tagged automatically, and learner errors are tagged manually. A sufficient scope of publications is available, which provides the theoretical basis for the creation of Latvian language learner corpora; however, there is a lack of studies or practical methodological guidelines concerning the opportunities for their application, and there is little data about the use of text corpora in language acquisition. The aim of this study is to explain from the theoretical perspective for what purposes learner corpus data may be used, as well as to illustrate the methodological groundwork with examples from the LaVA corpus. Analysis of theoretical literature has demonstrated the functions and meaning of learner corpora in research, and experience with the use of corpora in acquiring a foreign language has been analysed. Examples of the use of the LaVA corpus as a didactic resource have been prepared using Corpus Linguistics methods. The study was conducted within the state research programme project “The Latvian Language”. After studying the functions of learner corpora from the theoretical perspective, it was concluded that the target audience of the LaVA corpus mainly includes teachers of Latvian as a foreign language (LATS), authors of teaching materials, as well as Latvian language learners. To facilitate the use of the LaVA corpus, it is important to have basic knowledge of Corpus Linguistics, an understanding of the theory of language, as well as an understanding of foreign language teaching methodology. LATS teachers can use the LaVA corpus data in the creation of curricula and teaching materials, in the preparation of language proficiency tests, etc. Using the inductive approach in language acquisition, language learners can also become language researchers, can analyse the errors of other learners, etc. Undeniably, the LaVA corpus can be used in broader linguistic research, for example, in contrastive interlanguage analysis, comparing the data of language learners with the data of native speakers or the data of different groups of language learners.

Funny you should say that

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-159
Author(s):  
Gunther Kaltenböck
Keyword(s):  
Functional Properties ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Matrix Clause ◽  
Functional Profile ◽  
Complex Sentences ◽  
Corpus Data

Abstract This paper investigates the formal and functional properties of so-called semi-insubordination (SIS), i.e. complex sentences with an ‘incomplete’ matrix clause (e.g. Funny that you should say that), on the basis of corpus data. It is shown that SIS differs in its function from the structurally related constructions it-extraposition and exclamatives, exhibiting its own functional profile: viz. expressing a subjectivizing speaker evaluation which is non-exclamative, deictically anchored, and relates to a non-presupposed proposition. Given these functional idiosyncrasies it is argued that SIS is best analysed as a construction in its own right (in terms of Construction Grammar) rather than simply an incomplete elliptical structure.

Mapping meaning with distributional methods

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 272-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gard B. Jenset
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Statistical Techniques ◽  
Distributional Semantics ◽  
Multivariate Statistical Techniques ◽  
Multivariate Statistical ◽  
Semantic Maps ◽  
Original Meaning ◽  
Corpus Data ◽  
Computational Semantic

The semantics of existential there is discussed in a diachronic, corpus-based perspective. While previous studies of there have been qualitative or relied on interpreting relative frequencies directly, the present study combines multivariate statistical techniques with linguistic theory through distributional semantics. It is argued that existential uses of there in earlier stages of English were not semantically empty, and that the original meaning was primarily deictic rather than locative. This analysis combines key insights from previous studies of existential there with a Construction Grammar perspective, and discusses some methodological concerns regarding statistical methods for creating computational semantic maps from diachronic corpus data.

Diachronie der Zukunft

2021 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 364-395
Author(s):  
Stefan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Middle High German ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Present Participle ◽  
Modal Verb ◽  
Reference Corpus

Abstract Based on the Reference Corpus of Middle High German (REM) and the Bonn Early New High German Corpus (FnhdC), this paper investigates the development of the German future construction werden + Infinitive as well as constructions that are often seen as its predecessors and/or competitors. The paper focuses on the construction werden + Present Participle but also takes modal verb constructions with mögen, müssen, sollen, and wollen into account. A semantic analysis of the dependent verbs occurring in the constructions with regard to their aspectual characteristics reveals that werden + Infinitive and werden + Present Participle undergo parallel developments that can be seen as context expansion from a grammaticalization-theoretical perspective. The modal verb constructions, by contrast, remain stable with regard to the aspectual semantics of their dependent verbs. Furthermore, it is argued that, following recent theoretical approaches from diachronic Construction Grammar, the complex relationship between werden + Infinitive and werden + Participle can be modelled as ›attraction‹ or contamination between different constructions.

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