What V is N: What exists more often is a kind of side-by-side living …
Task 4: Imper sonal subject str uctur e
7. Conclusion
In this paper, I have reviewed some literatures on corpus linguistics. I introduced two major large corpora— the Bank of English (BOE) and the British National Corpus (BNC). And I have shown how corpora has been used to help students find descriptive rules, collocations of lexical items. Besides the grammar points, the relationship of language and culture, the informality of the Americans, occupational titles, personal questions, basic communicative, reading, and writing skills, and body language are also introduced. Furthermore, a sample of teaching English as a second language is introduced.
In sum, this research emphasizes on helping language teachers and learners to become aware of the descriptive rules of the target language by using corpora and data driven approach. It is hoped that language teachers and learners will acquire this new way of teaching and learning a foreign language eventually and that our foreign language education will move towards a new era in teaching English as a foreign language.
APPENDIX 1
Raw Data List (Selection 1 in Mosaic One)
A. Synonyms
a. Words that share similar meaning and function:
surprise/startled/amazed/startling same/similar
varied/different/diverse many/countless/numerous frequently/often
deference/respect just/simply (smile)
b. Same meaning expressed by different linguistic units:
young people/(people) in their teens uncomfortable/ not comfortable blended in/merge into
retain/keep to
varied types of faces/ethnic groups/diverse backgrounds many nationalities/different nationalities
Americans/the American get the point/understand
B. Antonyms dull/interesting similar/different
C. Modifiers
a. Adjectival modifiers
many Amer ican customs
their own customs and social traditions their own customs and patterns
men wear ing wigs or shor t shorts on women short shorts on women in downtown str eets the constant restless motion of Amer icans people in the flat Middle West
an evening of theater or music or even a movie
handle many small daily things differ ently
At fir st, … some foreign women may be startled … The … motion … may be startling at fir st.
The idea … is lar gely a myth.
keep to many of their own customs and patterns socially and at home when they fir st encounter it, especially in the business world
… , especially socially.
occupations that most fr equently carry titles especially when you fir st arrive
you can simply smile or say pleasantly that “you do not know” … turn the questions gently aside
Bar ely in their teens, they go off in droves …
Mostly, these diverse backgrounds have not been blended in the so-called American “melting pot.”
In fact, the idea that American is a melting pot is largely a myth.
As a r esult, no one needs to feel uncomfortable in following his or her own customs.
However , this need not bother you.
What we do use, however , are occupational titles.
D. Prepositions happens to us
living in varied cultures becomes accustomed to them
startled by having their hair cut and styled by men in downtown streets
in the flat Middle West
think nothing of driving seventy-five to a hundred miles to have dinner with a friend
go to a far-off city for an evening of theater or music or even a movie thousands of miles away fr om their families
go off in droves swirling ar ound you over shop doors pass on the streets
blended in the so-called American “melting pot”
merge into the American stream only in certain aspects of life--in schools, sports,
business, and science
keep to many of their own customs and patterns socially and at home in some countries
come fr om many nationalities
have grown up with a common heritage
feel uncomfortable in following his or her own customs a lack of
follow the boss’s immediate r equest thank you for feeling that fr iendly carry titles
to build a r elationship or base a conver sation
understand that such questions ar e meant to be fr iendly;
say pleasantly that you “do not know”
to see how differ ent nationalities begin a conver sation get the point
F. Pseudo cleft sentences
What exists more often is a kind of side-by-side living … What we do use, however, ar e occupational titles.
G. Impersonal subject sentences
Ther e is a far wider range of what is “acceptable” than in some countries where the inhabitants have grown up with a common heritage.
It is quite all right.
Isn’t it interesting to see how different nationalities begin a conversation?
H. Subjunctive sentences
What a dull world it would be if this were not true!
APPENDIX 2
Annotated Data List (Selection 1 in Mosaic One)
B. Synonyms
(A) Words that share similar meaning and function:
9 (1) Verbs: surprise/startled/amazed/startling; get the point/understand 10 (2) Nouns: deference/respect
(3) Adjectives: same/similar, varied/different/diverse;
many/countless/numerous (4) Adverbs: frequently/often, just/simply
(B) Same meaning expressed by different linguistic units:
(2) Verbals: blended in/merge into, retain/keep to, (2) Nominals: young people/(people) in their teens
varied types of faces/ethnic groups/diverse backgrounds many nationalities/different nationalities
Americans/the American
(4) Adjectivals: uncomfortable/ not comfortable,
C. Antonyms
Adjectives: dull/interesting, similar/different
D. Modifiers and heads:
a. Adjectival modifiers-Head nouns:
(a) Cultures and customs:
many Amer ican customs
the so-called Amer ican “melting pot”
a melting pot
the Amer ican stream
Amer ican informality
their own customs and social traditions their own customs and patterns
var ied cultures diver se backgrounds differ ent nationalities a common heritage common ground
(b) People:
some for eign women ethnic groups
certain other top gover nment officials countless young people
fir st names lower rank
occupational titles constant r estless motion immediate use
immediate request
the boss’s immediate request conver sational questions per sonal questions a funny question
(c) Place:
a far -off city
the flat Middle West the business world a dull world
(d) Thing:
shop doors shor t shorts
many small daily things
(e) Types & scope:
var ied types
a wide range a far wider range
b. Head nouns-Adjectival modifiers:
(a) N-PP:
(1) P = of
the constant restless motion of Amer icans the almost immediate use of fir st names a lack of r espect
a sign of acceptance and fr iendliness a roll call of school childr en
some 245 million of them another part of the countr y every part of the wor ld the varied types of faces a kind of side-by-side living
a wide range of what is “acceptable”
certain aspects of life
an evening of theater or music or even a movie (2) Other Ps
people in the flat Middle West
deference or respect fr om people of lower r ank a minimum feeling for “r ank”
short shorts on women in downtown str eets thousands of miles away fr om their families
(b) N-Rel. Cl.:
these people who ar e swir ling ar ound you the varied types of faces you pass on the str eets the names you see over shop door s
the idea that Amer ica is a melting pot
occupations that most fr equently car r y titles questions that seem to you to be too per sonal
some countries wher e the inhabitants have grown up with a common heritage a kind of … living in which ethnic groups retain … their own customs
a common ground on which to build a relationship
(c) N-adjectival:
something similar men wear ing wigs
nerves long accustomed to defer ence or r espect fr om people of lower r ank
people well beyond middle age people living in var ied cultur e
a college thousands of miles away fr om their families
(d) N-V-Predicative adj.:
Some differences are minor . what is acceptable …
If you are not comfor table
no one needs to feel uncomfor table … thank you … for feeling that fr iendly
Conversational questions may seem to you both too per sonal and too numer ous.
If you are asked questions that seem to you to be too per sonal, … Such questions are meant to be fr iendly …
(e) V-N-Adj.:
Many Americans find the terms … stiff and for mal.
It makes them uncomfor table.
D. Adverbial modifiers:
a. V-Manner Adv.:
say pleasantly that “you do not know” … turn the questions gently aside
handle many small daily things differ ently
b. V-Degree Adv./Degree Adv.-Adj./-Adv.:
The idea … is lar gely a myth.
quite young people quite all right
the almost immediate use
occupations that most frequently carry titles
c. V- ocation Adv.:
keep to many of their own customs and patterns socially and at home
d. Indefinite Time Adv.-V:
when they fir st encounter it, especially when you fir st arrive
one soon becomes accustomed to them.
e. Duration Adv.-V:
nerves long accustomed to deference
f. F requency Adv.-V:
occupations that most fr equently carry titles
g. F ocusing Adv.-focused element:
you can simply smile or say pleasantly that “you do not know” …
Mostly, these diverse backgrounds have not been blended in the … melting pot.
-- especially when you first arrive.
when they first encounter it, especially in the business world … , especially socially.
h. Negative adverbs-negated element:
Bar ely in their teens,
i. Sentential adverbials:
(a) Sequential Adv.-S/S- Sequential Adv.:
At fir st, … some foreign women may be startled … The … motion … may be startling at fir st.
(b) Adv. from a certain point of view–S/S-Adv. from a certain point of view:
keep to many of their own customs and patterns socially and at home In fact, the idea … is largely a myth.
j. Linking adverbials:
(a) Linking adverbials–S:
As a r esult, no one needs to feel uncomfortable in following his or her own customs.
However , this need not bother you.
(b) Linking adverbials–VP:
What we do use, however , are occupational titles.
E. Prepositions
a. N-P:
respect for age or position a feeling for “rank”
a search for common ground on which to build a relationship the use of first names
a lack of respect
thousands of miles away fr om their families
c. Adj-P:
feel uncomfortable in following his or her own customs
are not comfortable in following the … request to “Call me Andrew”
d. V-P:
becomes accustomed to them happens to us
think nothing of driving seventy-five to a hundred miles
go to a far-off city for an evening of theater or music or even a movie pass on the streets
swirling ar ound you
come fr om many nationalities living in varied cultures
blended in the so-called American “melting pot”
merge into the American stream only in certain aspects of life
keep to many of their own customs and patterns socially and at home to have dinner with a friend
have grown up with a common heritage go off in droves
being treated with respect for age or position
F. Verbs/Prepositions and complements: V-N/P-N a. V-N:
retain many of their own customs and social tr aditions
following his or her own customs
k. P-N:
in downtown streets in the flat Middle West in my country
in some countries
in schools, sports, business, and science in the business world
over shop doors
in certain aspects of life on first-name terms by American standards
turn the questions gently aside by some comment
G. Pseudo cleft sentences
What S V is N: What we do use, however, ar e occupational titles.
What V is N: What exists more often is a kind of side-by-side living …
H. Impersonal subject sentences
Ther e is a far wider range of what is “acceptable” than in some countries where the inhabitants have grown up with a common heritage.
It is quite all right.
Isn’t it interesting to see how different nationalities begin a conversation?
I. ‘If’ in subjunctive sentences vs. ‘if’ in
What a dull world it would be if this were not true!
What a dull world it would be if this wer e not tr ue!
If you ar e not comfor table in following the boss’s immediate request to “Call me Andrew,” it is quite all r ight.
If you ar e asked questions that see to you to be too personal, you need not answer them.
APPENDIX 3
Mor e Gr ammar Points to be investigated
A. Active voice vs. Passive voice a. is interested in/is interesting to the questioner is inter ested in you.
Isn’t is inter esting to see how different nationalities begin a conversation?
b. be startled by/be startling
some foreign women may be star tled by …
The constant restless motion of Americans may be star tling …
B. Lexical items which need more investigation:
a. seem to/is meant to
Conversational questions may seem to you both too personal and too numerous …
If you are asked questions that seem to you to be too personal, you need not answer them.
Such questions are meant to be friendly … b. happen to/begin:
the same thing happens to you when we visit another country.
to see how different nationalities begin a conversation c. varied/diverse/different:
varied cultures/types diverse backgrounds different nationalities d. same/similar/common:
same thing
something similar
common heritage/ground e. often/frequently/constantly
What exists more often is a kind of side-by-side living … Occupations that most frequently carry titles include: … constant restless motion
f. include/such Ns as/ such as:
(a) A roll call of school children will include such names as Adams, Ali, Bykowski, Capparella, Fujita, Gonzales, Mukerji, Nussiebeh, and Wong.
(b) Occupations that most frequently carry titles include: diplomats… bers of the Senate …
(c) turn the questions gently aside by some comment such as “Isn’t it interesting to see how different nationalities begin a conversation?”
g. need:
No one needs to feel uncomfortable in following his or her own customs.
This need not bother you.
You need not answer them.
C. Discourse analysis of some complex sentences in the text:
Some 245 million of them now call America home, but in they have their origins in every part of the world. The names you see over shop doors tell so, as do the varied types of faces you pass on the streets.
APPENDIX 4
Raw Cor pus Data fr om the BOE
APPENDIX 5
Annotated Cor pus Data of the BOE 1. handle things
SP: S-have to-handle-NP-of things
The leading players have to handle the sentimental side of things.
2. interpret something as
SP: S-inter pr et-something-as NP
With respect to Resolution 670, imposing an air embargo, we inter pr et is as being cargo-oriented.
Followers of Johnson may be pleased to inter pr et it as a sort of astronomical compliment.
He has a memory, but it is still very short. This is why you have to issue constant reminders not to do things, so don’t inter pr et his behaviour as naughtiness.
If you want to inter pr et Raddy’s pr esence at the match as superstition on my part, that’s fine.
Many Christians inter pr et a number of Biblical passages as outlawing sexual activity apart from intercourse between men and women in order to produce children.
3. turn the questions aside SP: S-tur n-the question-Adv.
It would not be better to tur n the question r ound.
4. to be treated with respect SP: S-be tr eated-with r espect
There is nothing average about a 309 driver. That’s why they ar e tr eated with such r espect
Among these rights, the most fundamental is the right to be tr eated with r espect.
Latif Jassem, the former information minister and adviser to President Saddam Hussein, said that he expected the 15-strong team and six-member back-up squad, including some Americans, to be tr eated with r espect.
We wer e not only tr eated with understanding and r espect, but by afternoon provided with a solution.
Mother Brendan, the principal, stood at the front door of the assembly hall, small but formidable, her place already booked in Heaven, where she expected to be tr eated with pr oper r espect by those who ran admissions.
5. have a feeling for
SP: S-have a feeling for NP
Those who have a special feeling for the small, ancient and decayed boroughs of England …
Ever since Nangi-san assigned me to work for you I have known that I have a special feeling towar d you.
6. drive to
SP: S-drive-to-NPplace
After the Amsterdam incident, he stayed n in Holland working as a hotel chef before a jazz drummer he met suggested they dr ive to Austr alia for mas.
If you’re feeling inspired, you could dr ive to near by Cr ews Hill, where you’ll find numerous garden centres stocking everything you could want for your own patch.
HOLIDAYMAKERS will paying less to jet to the sun this summer than it costs them to dr ive to the air por t.
I usually dr ive to Upton Par k for a full training session.
He would work all night loading the scenery, the props and all the costumes into the big lorry which would dr ive to Southampton and unload at the Southampton Palais, ready for the show to open on Monday night.
There was another way into the reserve: I could dr ive to the top of Kedia Hill and head due west along an old cutline.
Too tired to dr ive to the plane, we laid our foam mats and sleeping bags in the back of the Land Cruiser and crawled inside.
Feeling somewhat nervous, I didn’t ant to dr ive to Mildmay.
7. one’s request to V
SP: one’s r equest to V (O)
RFU will consider his r equest to see England through to the 1995 World Cup.
His disingenuous r equest of each one to name who is, and is not, wor thy of inclusion in his book provided delicious moments.
Cooke’s four-year reign ends after the Five Nations’ Championship, when the He left behind three of his team who will be responsible for deploying the instant monitors, who are being rounded up by the UN at the r equest of the Afr ican National Congr ess to watch over next week’s intensification of its mass action campaign.
It’s r equest for him to see an outside doctor was refused.
His ur gent r equest for a meeting to be held this weekend is therefore an indication of just how concerned his government is.
8. a search for
SP: a sear ch for NP
Out of work and looking for a job? Now there is more help than ever in your sear ch for the r ight job.
This checklist is a quick reminder of steps to take whatever stage you are at in your sear ch for a job.
In addition to the help offered by the College Residence Office, the University Accommodation Office is also able to assist in the sear ch for suitable
pr ivate accommodation.
The sear ch for new ideas continues. Al Bulletin readers are invited to send me their eagerly awaited ideas for developing the ITI Regions.
At first no one knew what was causing the destruction: it was only in 1868 that the bug as identified. Then the sear ch for a cur e began.
Finally, I decided to channel my anger into a sear ch for some answer s.
The sear ch for the bombs began after one was spotted at a toy shop.
Streets were sealed off by men with machine guns while a sear ch was made for missing children.
But whereas writers like Orwell, Spencer and Auden set out to find the
But whereas writers like Orwell, Spencer and Auden set out to find the