the white is more firm, and the yolk is rounder...
TRANSCRIPT
IntroductionCorpusResults
The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder:Comparative Variation in American English
Olga Scrivner Indiana University
November 4, 2010
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
English Comparatives
English Comparatives:
1 Inflectional (morphological)harder
2 Periphrasticmore beautiful
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Variation
Alternation between two forms: quieter - more quiet
http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/washers-dryers/washers/WF409SNL/XAC/index.idx
NPR (10/27/10) morning edition: stupider - more stupid
Combination of both forms: more prouder (Hilpert 2008)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Variation
Alternation between two forms: quieter - more quiet
http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/washers-dryers/washers/WF409SNL/XAC/index.idx
NPR (10/27/10) morning edition: stupider - more stupid
Combination of both forms: more prouder (Hilpert 2008)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Variation
Alternation between two forms: quieter - more quiet
http://www.samsung.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/washers-dryers/washers/WF409SNL/XAC/index.idx
NPR (10/27/10) morning edition: stupider - more stupid
Combination of both forms: more prouder (Hilpert 2008)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Preferences
Some adjectives show preference toward inflectional form, otherstoward periphrastic form.
Inflectional preference (Hilpert 2008:397):
easy choosy able humble
99.2% 40% 2.8% 72.8%
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Preferences
Some adjectives show preference toward inflectional form, otherstoward periphrastic form.
Inflectional preference (Hilpert 2008:397):
easy choosy able humble
99.2% 40% 2.8% 72.8%
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Computer-Based Corpora
LOB (Johansson 1978)
British English Period 1961 written 1 million words
Brown Corpus (Francis and Kucera 1964)
American English Period 1960 written 1 million words
BNC (Leech 1992)
British English 1960-1994 written&spoken 100 million words
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Previous Work
Phonological Factors Preference Author
Disyllabic Periphrastic Hilpert 2008
Final /i/ Inflectional Kyto 1997
Final /li/ Periphrastic Linquist 1998
Final /l/ Periphrastic Hilpert 2008
Consonant clusters Periphrastic Mondorf 2003
Haplology effect Periphrastic Mondorf 2003
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Factors
Syntactic level Preference Author
Predication Periphrastic Leech 1997
Than-phrase Inflectional Gonzalez-Dıaz 2007
Infinitive complement - to Periphrastic Mondorf 2003
Premodification Periphrastic Linguist 2000
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
English ComparativesComputer-Based Corpora
Factors
Condition Preference Author
Frequency Inflectional Hilpert 2008
Weak degree of gradability Periphrastic Mondorf 2003
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Research Goals
Comparative alternation in spoken data
Computer-based corpus of American English (COCA)
Sociolinguistic factors
Linguistic factors: types of adjectives, priming effect, numberof liquids
Double form
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Corpus COCA
The Corpus of Contemporary American English (Davies 2009)
http://www.americancorpus.org/
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
COCA
Spoken database
79+ million words
150 TV and radio programs: Good Morning America, Oprah
POS tags
Inflectional Form → POS tag adj.CMP
Periphrastic Form → more + adj.Double Form → more + adj.CMP
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
COCA
Spoken database
79+ million words
150 TV and radio programs: Good Morning America, Oprah
POS tags
Inflectional Form → POS tag adj.CMPPeriphrastic Form → more + adj.Double Form → more + adj.CMP
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
COCA
Spoken database
79+ million words
150 TV and radio programs: Good Morning America, Oprah
POS tags
Inflectional Form → POS tag adj.CMPPeriphrastic Form → more + adj.Double Form → more + adj.CMP
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Selection of Data
1. Only adjectives that occur with both comparative forms
1. Monosyllabic and disyllabic adjectives
3. Excluding irregular adjectives: better, worse
Total: 91 adjectives
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Selection of Data
1. Only adjectives that occur with both comparative forms
1. Monosyllabic and disyllabic adjectives
3. Excluding irregular adjectives: better, worse
Total: 91 adjectives
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Removal
Last names or titles:
Quantifier more
Any more big scandals coming? Any more big names going tofall, in your view? (1991 CNN King)
more → rather
I think it makes me more sad than angry’ cause I can’t, you know,changes the events (ABC 20/20)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Removal
Last names or titles:
Quantifier more
Any more big scandals coming? Any more big names going tofall, in your view? (1991 CNN King)
more → rather
I think it makes me more sad than angry’ cause I can’t, you know,changes the events (ABC 20/20)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Removal
Last names or titles:
Quantifier more
Any more big scandals coming? Any more big names going tofall, in your view? (1991 CNN King)
more → rather
I think it makes me more sad than angry’ cause I can’t, you know,changes the events (ABC 20/20)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Codification
3741 tokens
Dependent variants: Periphrastic, Inflectional, Double
Independent variants: Sociolinguistic, Linguistic factors
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Independent Variants
Sociolinguistic factors
Time period: 1990-1999 and 2000-2009Type of shows: serious and talk show
CNN Showbiz 2007:Why some people are more angry about the way these movies aremarketed
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Independent Variants
Sociolinguistic factors
Time period: 1990-1999 and 2000-2009Type of shows: serious and talk show
CNN Showbiz 2007:Why some people are more angry about the way these movies aremarketed
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Phonological level
1. number of syllables: 1, 22. number of liquids in a word: 0, 1, 23. final segments: stop, fricative/affricate, cluster, nasal,
diphthong, /i/, /u/, /r/, /l/, /li/, cluster+/l/
big, brave, fresh, blind, dim, slow, happy, blue, fair, full, friendly,simple
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Syntactic level
1. predicate or attribute2. than3. to - infinitive complementation4. premodification: even, much, still, yet, far, a bit, a little, a lot
predicate:It will be fairer to working families. (ABC Nightline)
Than-phrase:...and just a friendlier feeling than I ever had before. (CBS 48 Hours1992)To - complement:
...the pressure became even greater to figure out... (NBC Dateline 2009)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Syntactic level
1. predicate or attribute2. than3. to - infinitive complementation4. premodification: even, much, still, yet, far, a bit, a little, a lot
predicate:It will be fairer to working families. (ABC Nightline)Than-phrase:...and just a friendlier feeling than I ever had before. (CBS 48 Hours1992)
To - complement:
...the pressure became even greater to figure out... (NBC Dateline 2009)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Syntactic level
1. predicate or attribute2. than3. to - infinitive complementation4. premodification: even, much, still, yet, far, a bit, a little, a lot
predicate:It will be fairer to working families. (ABC Nightline)
Than-phrase:...and just a friendlier feeling than I ever had before. (CBS 48 Hours1992)To - complement:
...the pressure became even greater to figure out... (NBC Dateline 2009)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Syntactic level
1. predicate or attribute2. than3. to - infinitive complementation4. premodification: even, much, still, yet, far, a bit, a little, a lot
predicate:It will be fairer to working families. (ABC Nightline)Than-phrase:...and just a friendlier feeling than I ever had before. (CBS 48 Hours1992)
To - complement:
...the pressure became even greater to figure out... (NBC Dateline 2009)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Frequency
1. less frequent: less than 1,0002. frequent: 1,000 - 10,0003. very frequent : 10,000+
1 blunt 578
2 calm 2152
3 big 47, 690
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Frequency
1. less frequent: less than 1,0002. frequent: 1,000 - 10,0003. very frequent : 10,000+
1 blunt 578
2 calm 2152
3 big 47, 690
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Frequency
1. less frequent: less than 1,0002. frequent: 1,000 - 10,0003. very frequent : 10,000+
1 blunt 578
2 calm 2152
3 big 47, 690
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Linguistics factors
Frequency
1. less frequent: less than 1,0002. frequent: 1,000 - 10,0003. very frequent : 10,000+
1 blunt 578
2 calm 2152
3 big 47, 690
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Gradability
Survey of 19 native speakers of American English:
v Circle the number which represents the level 0/ intensity 0/the word (O==least intensity, 7=highest Intensity)
adjective scale adjective scale
angry 0 1 2 3 4 5 ® 7 dark o 1 2 3 4 (f) 6 7
big 0 1 2 3 S{) 5 6 7 deep o 1 2 3 95 6 7
black ® 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 dense o 1 2 3 fJ) 5 6 7
bland 0 1 2 ~ 4 5 6 7 dim o 1 2 3 4 <b)6 7
bleak 0 1 <!:) 3 4 5 6 7 dry o 1034 5 6 7
6 .0bloody 0 1 2 3 4 5 dumb 0<:[/2 3 4 5 6 7
blue 0 1 2.§) 4 5 6 7 easy o 1 2 3 4 (i) 6 7
blunt 0 1 2 3 4 5 faint o 1 ~3 4 5 6 7® 7
bold 0 1 3 4 5 6 7 fairW o &>2 3 4 5 6 7
brave 0 r:I) 2 3 4 5 6 7 fast o 1 2 3 4 5(!)7
bright 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 fine 2fi) o 1 34 6eD5
brisk 0 1 2 3 ~ 5 6 7 firm o 1 2 3b!' 5 6 7
broad 0 1 2 3 f!) 5 6 7 flat o 1 2,V4 5 6 7
brown 0 1 (£) 3 4 5 6 7 free 0 1 2 3 4 5 6.r::t::;J busy 0 1 2 3 4 5 <!) 7 fresh 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 (j;J calm 0 1 ~3 4 5 6 7 friendly 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 V clean 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0 full o 1 2 V4 5 6 7
clear 0 1 2 3 4 5 (i) 7 funny 01 234 507 clever 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 t:J:) grand 0123 4 ~6 7
close 0 1 2 3 & 5 6 7 great 01234560
crazy 0 1 4 5 6 7 green 01230567& 3
1
loose: weak gradable
lucky: gradable
nasty: strong gradable
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Gradability
Survey of 19 native speakers of American English:
loose: weak gradable
lucky: gradable
nasty: strong gradable
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Semantic Type
The adjectives are classified in eight groups (Tagliamonte 2008)
Type Example
Dimension bigPhysical Property hardColour blueEmotion happyAge oldValue poorSpeed fastPosition near
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Stative - Dynamic Property
(Quirk 1985)
1. Stative: *He’s being tall. *Be tall.
2. Dynamic: He’s being kind. Be kind.
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Priming
Psycholinguistic studies: priming involves phonetically orsemantically similar items.
Sociolinguistic field: the priming effect plays a role in syntax(Cacoullos 1999).The speakers have a tendency to repeat structure that theyproduced or heard.
... whether the spirit that it generates is more uplifting or simplymore angry (NPR Weekend)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Priming
Psycholinguistic studies: priming involves phonetically orsemantically similar items.
Sociolinguistic field: the priming effect plays a role in syntax(Cacoullos 1999).The speakers have a tendency to repeat structure that theyproduced or heard.
... whether the spirit that it generates is more uplifting or simplymore angry (NPR Weekend)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoalsMethodologyCodification
Priming
Psycholinguistic studies: priming involves phonetically orsemantically similar items.
Sociolinguistic field: the priming effect plays a role in syntax(Cacoullos 1999).The speakers have a tendency to repeat structure that theyproduced or heard.
... whether the spirit that it generates is more uplifting or simplymore angry (NPR Weekend)
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Overall Distribution
Inflectional 74.5% 2788
Periphrastic 22.5% 842
Double 3.0% 111
Total N 3741
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Show
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
periphras2c inflec2onal double
26
71
4
20
77
3
talk show
serious news
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Syllables
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
periphras2c inflec2onal double
20
77
3
29
69
2
1 syllable
2 syllables
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Frequency
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
periphras2c inflec2onal double
20
80
0.3
21
77
2
28
66
6
< 1000
1000 -‐10,000
> 10, 000
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Predication
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
periphras3c inflec3onal double
28
68
3 12
85
2
predicate
a=ribute
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Number of Liquids
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
periphras2c inflec2onal double
17
80
3
23
74
2
41
55
3
0 liquids
1 liquid
2 liquids
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Gradability
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
periphras2c inflec2onal double
22
76
3
22
75
3
24
71
4
weak gradable
gradable
strong gradable
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Semantic types
0 20 40 60 80 100
emo+on
dimension
colour
physical
value
speed
posi+on
51
16
21
19
29
7
24
49
80
78
78
69
88
73
1
4
1
3
3
5
3
double
inflec+onal
periphras+c
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Logistic Regression: Factors Favoring Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Type of adjective emotion 0.794 51.6 47/92color 0.576 21.2 21/100value 0.548 29.2 341/1199position 0.524 24.8 107/444dimension 0.472 16.2 82/529physical property 0.453 19.7 234/1224speed 0.302 6.9 10/153
Number of liquids 2 0.671 42.9 130/3031 0.513 23.8 499/21000 0.433 17.4 213/1227
Predication predicate 0.588 29.2 674/2306atribute 0.349 12.7 168/1324
Frequency 1 0.594 20.3 75/3693 0.562 30.0 269/8962 0.461 21.1 498/2365
Type of show talk show 0.545 26.8 388/1448serious 0.470 20.8 454/2182
Than absence 0.521 23.7 701/2952presence 0.408 20.8 141/678
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Significant Factors: Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Priming presence 0.553 28.5 252/884absence 0.483 21.5 590/2156
Final segment cluster+/l/ 0.803 44.4 32/72/u/ 0.687 50.0 41/82/r/ 0.676 45.6 113/248diphthong 0.601 21.2 39/184/l/ 0.589 27.5 28/102fricative 0.527 21.1 91/412-ly 0.506 33.8 47/139-y 0.489 27.0 226/836occlusive 0.478 14.8 94/637cluster 0.402 15.1 114/753nasal 0.329 10.3 17/165
Gradability 1 0.526 22.9 539/23502 0.494 15.4 137/5390 0.424 22.4 166/741
Significance: 0.016
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Significant Factors: Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Priming presence 0.553 28.5 252/884absence 0.483 21.5 590/2156
Final segment cluster+/l/ 0.803 44.4 32/72/u/ 0.687 50.0 41/82/r/ 0.676 45.6 113/248diphthong 0.601 21.2 39/184/l/ 0.589 27.5 28/102fricative 0.527 21.1 91/412-ly 0.506 33.8 47/139-y 0.489 27.0 226/836occlusive 0.478 14.8 94/637cluster 0.402 15.1 114/753nasal 0.329 10.3 17/165
Gradability 1 0.526 22.9 539/23502 0.494 15.4 137/5390 0.424 22.4 166/741
Significance: 0.016
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Significant Factors: Periphrastic Form
Group category FW % Total N
Priming presence 0.553 28.5 252/884absence 0.483 21.5 590/2156
Final segment cluster+/l/ 0.803 44.4 32/72/u/ 0.687 50.0 41/82/r/ 0.676 45.6 113/248diphthong 0.601 21.2 39/184/l/ 0.589 27.5 28/102fricative 0.527 21.1 91/412-ly 0.506 33.8 47/139-y 0.489 27.0 226/836occlusive 0.478 14.8 94/637cluster 0.402 15.1 114/753nasal 0.329 10.3 17/165
Gradability 1 0.526 22.9 539/23502 0.494 15.4 137/5390 0.424 22.4 166/741
Significance: 0.016
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Not Significant Factors
Time period
Number of syllables
To - infinitive complement
Premodification
Dynamic - stative property
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Discussion
Many factors from previous corpus studies are confirmed.
Previous tendencies:
predicative use, than, haplology, final -ly, than-phrase
New tendencies
type of adjective, number of liquids, type of show, priming
Possibility of interaction: final segment, frequency and type ofadjective
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Discussion
Many factors from previous corpus studies are confirmed.
Previous tendencies:
predicative use, than, haplology, final -ly, than-phrase
New tendencies
type of adjective, number of liquids, type of show, priming
Possibility of interaction: final segment, frequency and type ofadjective
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Discussion
Many factors from previous corpus studies are confirmed.
Previous tendencies:
predicative use, than, haplology, final -ly, than-phrase
New tendencies
type of adjective, number of liquids, type of show, priming
Possibility of interaction: final segment, frequency and type ofadjective
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Conclusion
1. The choice between comparative forms is affected by manyfactors: phonetic, syntactic, semantic, lexicon
2. Extralinguistic factor (type of show) is found significant
3. Number of liquids plays a significant role
4. Priming is found significant
5. Semantic type of adjectives is found significant
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Future Directions
Incorporation of more social factors:
sex
age
dialectal variation
More data
Statistical analysis of double forms
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
References I
Gonzalez-Dıaz, V. (2007). On the nature and distribution of English doubleperiphrastic comparison. The Review of English Studies 57 (232), 623-664.
Hilbert, M. (2008). The English comparative - language structure and language use.English Language and Linguistics, 12(3), 395-417.
Kyto, M. and S. Romaine. (1997). Competing forms of adjective comparison inModern English: What could be more quicker and easier and more effective? In T.Nevalainen and L. Kahlas-Tarkka (eds.), To explain the present. Studies in thechanging English language in honour of Matti Rissanen 32952. Helsinki: Memoires delaSociete Neophilologique de Helsinki.
Mondorf, B. 2003. Support for more-support. In G. Rohdenburg and B. Mondorf(eds.), Determinants of grammatical variation in English, 251-304. Berlin: Mouton deGruyter.
Quirk, R., S. Greenbaum, G. Leech & J. Svartvik. 1985. A comprehensive grammar ofthe English language. New York: Longman
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Reference II
Sankoff, D., S. Tagliamonte and E. Smith. (2005). Goldvarb X: A variable ruleapplication for Macintosh and Windows. Department of Linguistics, University ofToronto
Tagliamonte, S. A.(2008). So different and pretty cool! Recycling intensifiers in
Toronto, Canada. English Language and Linguistics 12(2), 361-394.
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Acknowledgment
The following groups and individuals deserve profuse thanks fortheir help in this study:
Professor Jullie Auger Indiana University
Participants of the survey
James Scrivner
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English
IntroductionCorpusResults
GoldvarbDiscussion
Appendix
Olga Scrivner Indiana University The White is More Firm, and the Yolk is Rounder: Comparative Variation in American English