The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Basic assumptions of the model:

1. it is corpus based (seems 'twas important to note in the days of yore)
2. it's computer based, thus enabling distributional analysis
3. aims for linguistic/statistical analysis, not individual stylistic constructions
4. different kinds of text differ linguistically
5. multiple parameters of variation are operative in any domain
6. it's a quantitative approach
7. quantities are interpreted functionally
   (statistical co-occurence implies shared functionality)
8. it combines macro- and microscopic approaches (e.g. variation across all genres as well as within specific ones)

Introduction

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

basic assumptions of the model:

1. it is corpus based (seems 'twas important to note in the days of yore)
2. it's computer based, thus enabling distributional analysis
3. aims for linguistic/statistical analysis, not individual stylistic constructions
4. different kinds of text differ linguistically
5. multiple parameters of variation are operative in any domain
6. it's a quantitative approach
7. quantities are interpreted functionally
   (statistical co-occurence implies shared functionality)
8. it combines macro- and microscopic approaches (e.g. variation across all genres as well as within specific ones)

Introduction

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

basic assumptions of the model:

5. multiple parameters of variation are operative in any domain

no single dimension is adequate in itself to account for the range of linguistic variation in a language

- Douglas, 1992

Introduction

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Methodology

Biber (1992) used:

• LOB- and London-Lund Corpora
  - LOB: 500 texts / 2000 words each
  - LL: 100 (spoken) texts / 5000 words each
• CLAWS tagging system
• ultimately resulting in:
  - 481 texts (written & spoken)
  - 67 linguistic features
  - 23 major genre categories

(and small recap)

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Selected examples of Feature-Classes:

• tense and aspect markers
• questions
• lexical specifity
• pronouns and proverbs

• place and time adverbials
• passives
• negation
• modals

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Dimension composition in detail:

Dimension 2: Narrative vs. Non-narrative

positive loadings:

• past tense verbs
• third person pronouns
• perfect aspect verbs
• public verbs
• synthetic negation
• present participle clauses

0.90
0.73
0.48
0.43
0.40
0.39

negative loadings:

• present tense verbs
• attributive adjs.

-0.47
-0.41

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Dimension composition in detail:

Dimension 2: Narrative vs. Non-narrative

Factor/Dimension labels are highly interpretative!

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

5 basic dimensions of variation

1. Informational vs Involved
   + nouns, word length
   - private verbs, that deletions, contractions
2. Narrative vs Non-narrative
3. Elaborated vs Situated Reference
   + WH relative clauses on sub- & object positions
   - time & place adverbials
4. Overt Expression of Persuasion (Argumentation)
   + infinitives, prediction modals
5. Abstract vs Non-abstract Style
   + conjuncts, agentless passives, BY-passives

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Methodology

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Methodology

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Findings

Grabe (1987):

• investigation between genres and audience level
  - genres: social science, natural science, humanities...
  - audience: academic, introductory university, popular
• four dimensions identified
• associations / differences found among both
  ==>implying linguistic importance

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Biber (1991)

Analysis of primary school reading texts

• texts are "notably different from adult genres" ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• also huge differences among each other
• 2nd grade science texts are more
  - involved and interactive (dim 1)
  - situated (dim 3)
  than more advanced science texts
• but also more involved & interactive than basal reading texts

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Biber & Finnegan (1992)

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

What is (a) genre?

text varieties that are readily recognized and "named" within a culture.

opposed to text types, which are

text varieties that are defined linguistically

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

What is (a) genre?

opposed to text types, which are

categorized perceptually
(not necessarily linguistically coherent)

categorized by linguistic dimension
(coherent by definition)

Findings

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Statistical extension

Cluster Analysis on the basis of dimension scores (Biber, 1989):

• identifies Intimate Interpersonal & Informational Interaction
  (instead of a single interactive/dialog type)
• no single expository type, but...
  - Scientific Exposition; informational, elaborated, abstract
  - Learned Exposition; less abstract and technical
  - General Narrative Exposition; informational elaboration
• no single narrative type:
  - General Narrative Expostion
  - Imaginative Narrative; rather involved

Findings

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

MD Analysis of other languages

Dimensions in other languages convey different function

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Roundup

• Distributional analysis of co-occuring linguistic features across a wide range of genres
• Identification of underlying linguistic and textual constructs
• Model/Method can be used to address sociolinguistic and stylistic issues regarding their respective linguistic variation

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Discussion

• What do you think about this approach?
  • are the assumptions justified?
• ...or the model?
  • are the dimensions appropriate?
  • are they sufficient?
• Any (b)ad-hoc hypotheses interesed in to able to test with this?
  • Is InfoWars actually waging war on information?
  • How do hi-fantasy, satirical sci-fi and scientific literature differ?

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Discussion

no single dimension is adequate in itself to account for the range of linguistic variation in a language

- Douglas, 1992

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Discussion

no single dimension is adequate in itself to account for the range of linguistic variation in a language

- Douglas, 1992

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Discussion

Discussion / Critique

The Multi-Dimensional Approach to Linguistic Analyses of Genre Variation

Course: 8.3409

Corpus Linguistics

Critique

• They don't mention any statistics regarding the dimensions
  - Variance explanied per dimension / in total
  - How they dealt with unclear loadings (if at all)