English Adjectival Inflection: A radical Radical Construction Grammar Approach John Newman & Sally Rice University of Alberta CSDL 2006 UC San Diego

English Adjectival

Inflection:A radical Radical Construction

Grammar Approach

John Newman & Sally RiceUniversity of Alberta

CSDL 2006UC San Diego

Bertrand Russell’s Emotive Conjugations

I’m

tenacious

you’re stubborn

he’s pigheaded

singular

1

2

3

inflection-specificadjectival meaning and behavior

in English

a radicalRadical Construction Grammar approach

language-specific (typologically aware)

construction-specific (context sensitive)

inflection-specific (lemma sceptical)

a radicalRadical Construction Grammar approach

language-specific (typologically aware)

construction-specific (context sensitive)

inflection-specific (lemma sceptical)

English Adjectival Inflection

inflectional periphrastic suppletive

positive tall interesting good

comparative taller more interesting better

superlative tallest most interesting best

English Adjectival Inflection –– FACTORS

semantics

etymology / derivation

syllable structure (Quirk & Greenbaum, Kytö & Romaine 1997, Biber et al. 1999 )

phonotactics

register / dialect

English Adjectival Inflection –– FACTORS

semantics

etymology / derivation

syllable structure (Quirk & Greenbaum, Kytö & Romaine 1997, Biber et al. 1999 )

phonotactics

register / dialect

inflectional island effects (Rice & Newman 2005)

Inflectional Islands

Syntactic (constructional), semantic, and

collocational properties tend to inhere in

individual inflections of a lexical item in a

register-specific manner. These properties

may not extend across all the inflections

(the paradigm) to characterize the lemma

as a whole.

children tend to use uninflected verb roots before inflected forms

verb inflections are mastered on a verb-by-verb basis

generalization is gradual

initially, particular verbs “strand” inflections

adults use particular inflected forms of individual verbs on a register-specific basis

verb inflections adhere to verbs on a verb-by-verb basis

particularization is gradual

eventually, inflections “strand” particular verbs

THE VERBISLAND HYPOTHESISTomasello 1992, 2004

THE INFLECTIONAL ISLAND HYPOTHESISRice & Newman 2005

V < < < inflection V > > > inflection

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

SUPPOSE

THANK

KEEP

NEED

GIVE

MAKE

LIKE

TELL

TAKE

PUT

LOOK

MEAN

WANT

COME

THINK

SEE

GO

KNOW

SAY

GET

VVB-verb VVZ-verbs VVI-(to) verb VVD-verbed VVG-(be) verbing VVN-(have) verbed

DISTRIBUTION OF SOME BASIC VERBS IN THE BNC BASED ON TAM INFLECTION

IMPLICATIONS OF USAGE-BASED APPROACHES TO GRAMMAR

a new starting point for linguistic analysis

put lemmas aside (as done earlier with syntactic rule in favor of constructions)

substitute words-in-context or WICs (intersection of genre, register, & inflection)

a new (lower) level of linguistic generalization

find the “hierarchy of lower-level structures...[that] specify the actual array of subcases and specific instances that support and give rise to the higher-level generalization” RWL, Concept, Image, & Symbol, 1991:281-282

WICs

locus of lexicalization and grammaticalization

active in borrowings and morphological realignment

spawn psychological associations, induce priming effects

English Inflected Adjectives as WICs

uneven distribution

alternate marking newer more new

double marking bestest most commonest

inflectional gaps sheer *-er sheerest

inflectional idiosyncracies

irregular semantics

collocational preferences of WICs

constructional properties of WICs

English Inflected Adjectives as WICs

uneven distribution

alternate marking newer more new

double marking bestest most commonest

inflectional gaps sheer *-er sheerest

inflectional idiosyncracies

irregular semantics

collocational preferences of WICs

constructional properties of WICs

Our focus here

1. Inflectional idiosyncracies (relative frequencies)

2. N collocates

3. A collocates

4. Constructions

1. Inflectional idiosyncracies of A, Aer, Aest

AJ0, AJC, and AJS in the BNC

6,346,759

196,473 91,6160

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

AJ0 AJC AJS


BEST


AJ0, AJC, and AJS in the BNC

6,346,759

196,473 91,6160

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

4,000,000

5,000,000

6,000,000

7,000,000

AJ0 AJC AJS


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

weak

thin

slim

lean

trim

plai

n

slend

er

feeb

lefra

il

comp

sup


0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

simple fine tiny mere pure slight

comp

sup


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

small

tiny

pos

comp

sup

2. N collocates of A, Aer, Aest

GOOD BETTER BEST1 IDEA 577 WAY 35 THING 1742 JOB 290 CHANCE 25 WAY 1653 MORNING 279 THINGS 24 FRIEND 474 BOY 245 DEAL 20 PART 315 THING 220 IDEA 18 PLACE 256 GIRL 181 POSITION 17 TIME 237 NEWS 155 QUALITY 17 PEOPLE 198 TIME 116 JOB 16 BIT 179 WAY 97 USE 14 WISHES 17

10 POINT 86 ONES 12 FRIENDS 1611 GRIEF 81 SERVICE 12 INTERESTS 1612 EVENING 75 PLACE 11 ADVICE 1413 AFTERNOON 74 WORD 11 WILL 1414 DAY 73 VALUE 9 BET 1215 EXAMPLE 71 CLASS 9 IDEA 1116 LUCK 70 CONDITIONS 8 PRACTICE 1117 QUALITY 62 RATE 7 VALUE 1118 REASON 61 SIDE 7 PERSON 919 LORD 58 RESULTS 6 ONES 920 GOD 57 PARTICULARS 6 CHANCE 9

2. N collocates of A, Aer, AestSLIGHT LL SLIGHTEST LL

1 increase hint2 smile bit3 variations movement4 angle idea5 the doubt6 improvement sign7 modifications chance8 acidity interest9 breeze intention

10 change provocation11 frown suspicion12 difference difference13 delay thing14 changes inclination15 shrug touch16 exaggeration breeze17 distal flicker18 bow inkling19 figure trace20 decrease notice21 pause degree22 differences sound23 movement nod24 variation suggestion25 rise 100+ encouragement 50+







2. N collocates of A, Aer, AestFINE LL FINER LL FINEST LL

art 2501.41 points 970.61 hour 370.34 arts 2007.77 details 173.25 collections 318.67 gael 995.59 detail 145.50 examples 211.79 tuning 590.70 feelings 112.71 collection 186.05 weather 544.30 distinctions 92.66 quality 118.67 detail 486.88 grain 80.25 works 114.69 chemicals 463.67 grades 76.01 hotels 92.76 example 438.10 things 59.46 medieval 91.54 collection 345.15 particles 54.66 wines 83.01 line 255.93 material 52.15 work 80.83 wines 248.41 report 26.83 achievements 66.14 examples 241.35 traditions 65.00 china 228.57 beaches 60.16 views 220.79 achievement 56.06 workman 217.71 craftsmen 53.23 day 215.89 hours 51.78 gravel 210.28 example 50.90 style 194.95 minds 47.21 thanks 193.84 buildings 45.51 tune 188.09 moment 42.68 lines 184.68 silk 40.42 particles 184.54 moments 36.85 hair 175.83 views 35.64 lace 172.67 piece 33.44 old 162.03 girl 27.87 yarn 161.65 details 23.65 fettle 159.98 thing 23.38 grained 151.11 team 19.08 details 147.99 gauge 141.46 thank 141.14 balance 138.55 bone 132.28 linen 129.16 performance 129.08





3. A collocates of A, Aer, Aest

AJ * AJ AJC * AJC AJS * AJS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 1049 WORSE AND WORSE 79 NEAREST AND DEAREST 37 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC 755 BETTER OR WORSE 71 BEST AND WORST 25 BLACK AND WHITE 631 HIGHER AND HIGHER 69 BIGGEST AND BEST 16 SOCIAL AND POLITICAL 502 FURTHER AND HIGHER 66 BEST , BEST 8 POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC 466 SMALLER AND SMALLER 63 HIGHEST AND LOWEST 7 ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL 421 BETTER AND BETTER 51 LOWEST AND HIGHEST 7 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 359 BIGGER AND BIGGER 50 OLDEST AND LARGEST 6 DEAF AND DUMB 276 HIGHER AND FURTHER 45 LARGEST AND FINEST 6 BLACK AND WHITE 270 BIGGER AND BETTER 39 BIGGEST AND RICHEST 6 ECONOMIC AND MONETARY 266 LARGER AND LARGER 39 BEST AND CHEAPEST 5 NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL 251 LOUDER AND LOUDER 33 LARGEST AND BEST 5 MALE AND FEMALE 242 HIGHER OR LOWER 33 EASIEST AND CHEAPEST 5 POLITICAL AND SOCIAL 236 GREATER AND GREATER 24 OLDEST AND YOUNGEST 5 HON. AND LEARNED 230 OLDER AND YOUNGER 24 SIMPLEST AND CHEAPEST 5 OLD AND NEW 214 HIGHER AND LOWER 23 OLDEST AND SMALLEST 4 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL 202 BIGGER AND STRONGER 18 EASIEST AND QUICKEST 4 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL 191 LONGER AND LONGER 17 CHEAPEST AND SIMPLEST 4 PHYSICAL AND MENTAL 186 OLDER AND WISER 17 DEEPEST , DARKEST 4 CENTRAL AND LOCAL 183 WIDER AND WIDER 17 LARGEST AND OLDEST 4 GREATER OR LESSER 181 LARGER OR SMALLER 16 BIGGEST , BIGGEST 4

4. Misc. constructions with A, Aer, Aest

POS COMP SUP IT IS POSSIBLE TO 1972 IT IS BETTER TO 247 IT IS BEST TO 230 IT IS IMPORTANT TO 1766 IT IS EASIER TO 178 IT IS EASIEST TO 21 IT IS DIFFICULT TO 1577 IT IS HARDER TO 21 IT IS SAFEST TO 8 IT IS NECESSARY TO 1091 IT IS SAFER TO 13 IT IS SIMPLEST TO 7 IT IS EASY TO 688 IT IS CHEAPER TO 13 IT IS WISEST TO 2 IT IS HARD TO 684 IT IS CLOSER TO 11 IT IS CLOSEST TO 2 IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO 634 IT IS WISER TO 7 IT IS NEAREST TO 1 IT IS INTERESTING TO 401 IT IS SIMPLER TO 7 IT IS KINDEST TO 1 IT IS LIKELY TO 326 IT IS QUICKER TO 5 IT IS CHEAPEST TO 1 IT IS ESSENTIAL TO 291 IT IS WORSE TO 1 IT IS USEFUL TO 198 IT IS SLOWER TO 1 IT IS REASONABLE TO 194 IT IS RISKIER TO 1 IT IS ADVISABLE TO 136 IT IS NEARER TO 1 IT IS UNLIKELY TO 133 IT IS KINDER TO 1 IT IS FAIR TO 130 IT IS FAIRER TO 1 IT IS TEMPTING TO 129 IT IS CLEANER TO 1 IT IS GOOD TO 121 IT IS APPROPRIATE TO 117 IT IS USUAL TO 110 IT IS VITAL TO 109

It is _____ to...



It is _____ to...



It is _____ to...


A-er than NORM

A-er THAN USUAL A-er THAN NORMAL A-er THAN AVERAGE A-er THAN EXPECTED1 HIGHER 13 HIGHER 27 HIGHER 39 LOWER 382 WORSE 11 LARGER 10 LOWER 17 BETTER 343 LARGER 10 LOWER 8 BETTER 14 HIGHER 344 LONGER 9 BIGGER 6 LARGER 11 WORSE 195 LOWER 8 SMALLER 5 GREATER 8 GREATER 136 SMALLER 7 SHORTER 4 FASTER 6 BIGGER 77 SHORTER 6 FASTER 4 SMALLER 4 LARGER 48 LATER 6 GREATER 4 WORSE 3 EARLIER 49 PALER 5 LATER 3 SHORTER 2 SLOWER 3

10 THICKER 5 LONGER 3 SLOWER 2 WEAKER 311 HEAVIER 4 HEAVIER 3 DENSER 2 SMALLER 212 GREATER 4 WORSE 3 BIGGER 2 POORER 213 QUIETER 4 WIDER 2 CHILLIER 1 STRONGER 214 EARLIER 4 THICKER 2 COLDER 1 TOUGHER 215 DEEPER 3 WARMER 2 COOLER 1 LONGER 216 FASTER 3 LOUDER 2 EARLIER 1 EASIER 117 CLOSER 3 HOTTER 2 FITTER 1 FASTER 118 LOUDER 3 HUSKIER 1 HEAVIER 1 CHEAPER 119 YOUNGER 3 KEENER 1 RICHER 1 COOLER 120 THINNER 3 BLUER 1 LATER 1 DEEPER 121 SLOWER 3 BRIGHTER 1 LIGHTER 1 QUIETER 122 SOFTER 3 CHEAPER 1 LONGER 1 SMOOTHER 123 PINKER 2 CLEARER 1 YOUNGER 1 SOFTER 124 STRONGER 2 DENSER 1 TALLER 125 WARMER 2 EARLIER 1 WARMER 1 17726 LIGHTER 2 MILDER 1 WEAKER 127 BUSIER 2 LIGHTER 1 WETTER 128 BETTER 2 HARDIER 1 WIDER 129 DARKER 2 WHITER 130 EMPTIER 1 THINNER 1 12631 FAINTER 1 SLOWER 132 FIRMER 1 SNAPPIER 133 FLATTER 1 STRONGER 134 FULLER 135 GLOOMIER 1 10636 GRAVER 137 BIGGER 138 BLACKER-HAIRED 139 BRIGHTER 140 BUMPIER 141 CALMER 142 CHEAPER 143 COLDER 144 CROSSER 145 HAIRIER 146 HAPPIER 147 HOTTER 148 READIER 149 SCRUFFIER 150 SHARPER 151 NICER 152 NOISIER 153 ODDER 154 OILIER 155 WEAKER 156 WHITER 157 WIDER 158 SURLIER 159 TALLER 160 UGLIER 161 QUICKER 162 SPARSER 163 STERNER 164 STRICTER 1

169


A-er than NORM

A-er THAN USUAL A-er THAN NORMAL A-er THAN AVERAGE A-er THAN EXPECTED1 HIGHER 13 HIGHER 27 HIGHER 39 LOWER 382 WORSE 11 LARGER 10 LOWER 17 BETTER 343 LARGER 10 LOWER 8 BETTER 14 HIGHER 344 LONGER 9 BIGGER 6 LARGER 11 WORSE 195 LOWER 8 SMALLER 5 GREATER 8 GREATER 136 SMALLER 7 SHORTER 4 FASTER 6 BIGGER 77 SHORTER 6 FASTER 4 SMALLER 4 LARGER 48 LATER 6 GREATER 4 WORSE 3 EARLIER 49 PALER 5 LATER 3 SHORTER 2 SLOWER 3

10 THICKER 5 LONGER 3 SLOWER 2 WEAKER 311 HEAVIER 4 HEAVIER 3 DENSER 2 SMALLER 212 GREATER 4 WORSE 3 BIGGER 2 POORER 213 QUIETER 4 WIDER 2 CHILLIER 1 STRONGER 214 EARLIER 4 THICKER 2 COLDER 1 TOUGHER 215 DEEPER 3 WARMER 2 COOLER 1 LONGER 216 FASTER 3 LOUDER 2 EARLIER 1 EASIER 117 CLOSER 3 HOTTER 2 FITTER 1 FASTER 118 LOUDER 3 HUSKIER 1 HEAVIER 1 CHEAPER 119 YOUNGER 3 KEENER 1 RICHER 1 COOLER 120 THINNER 3 BLUER 1 LATER 1 DEEPER 121 SLOWER 3 BRIGHTER 1 LIGHTER 1 QUIETER 122 SOFTER 3 CHEAPER 1 LONGER 1 SMOOTHER 123 PINKER 2 CLEARER 1 YOUNGER 1 SOFTER 124 STRONGER 2 DENSER 1 TALLER 125 WARMER 2 EARLIER 1 WARMER 1 17726 LIGHTER 2 MILDER 1 WEAKER 127 BUSIER 2 LIGHTER 1 WETTER 128 BETTER 2 HARDIER 1 WIDER 129 DARKER 2 WHITER 130 EMPTIER 1 THINNER 1 12631 FAINTER 1 SLOWER 132 FIRMER 1 SNAPPIER 133 FLATTER 1 STRONGER 134 FULLER 135 GLOOMIER 1 10636 GRAVER 137 BIGGER 138 BLACKER-HAIRED 139 BRIGHTER 140 BUMPIER 141 CALMER 142 CHEAPER 143 COLDER 144 CROSSER 145 HAIRIER 146 HAPPIER 147 HOTTER 148 READIER 149 SCRUFFIER 150 SHARPER 151 NICER 152 NOISIER 153 ODDER 154 OILIER 155 WEAKER 156 WHITER 157 WIDER 158 SURLIER 159 TALLER 160 UGLIER 161 QUICKER 162 SPARSER 163 STERNER 164 STRICTER 1

169

a radical RCG approach to English adjectival inflection

A and AA-er and A-er more A and more AA-est and A-est most A and most A

even A-er even more A

A-er N more A NA-est N most A N

N be A-er N be more AN be A-est N be most A

A radical RCG approach to allows us to leave the paradigm behind.

Paradigms (lemmas) have value for some purposes, but they often end up straight-jacketing an analysis.

The conceit of the paradigm tends to dull our interest in looking at the lexical semantics of inflected forms in their own right (cf. the Russellian conjugations).

Some items do escape the shackles of the paradigm and actually become lexical items in their own right.

A radical RCG approach to allows us to leave the paradigm behind.

Paradigms (lemmas) have value for some purposes, but they often end up straight-jacketing an analysis.

The conceit of the paradigm tends to dull our interest in looking at the lexical semantics of inflected forms in their own right.

Some items do escape the shackles of the paradigm and actually become lexical items in their own right (cf. the Russellian conjugations).


rath(e) rather rathest

nigh near nextnearest

forme former firstforemost

late later lastlatest


rath(e) rather rathest

nigh near nextnearest

forme former firstforemost

late later lastlatest

Thank you.

Documents

English Adjectival Inflection: A radical Radical Construction Grammar Approach John Newman & Sally Rice University of Alberta CSDL 2006 UC San Diego