LINGUIST List 16.2832
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Sun Oct 02 2005
Qs: Comparative Adjectives; Corpora in Lang Testing
Editor for this issue: Jessica Boynton
<jessica linguistlist.org>
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Directory
1. Muhammad-Reza
Fakhr-Rohani,
Comparative Adjectives
2. Fiona
Barker,
Use of Corpora in Language Testing
Message 1: Comparative Adjectives
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Date: 02-Oct-2005
From: Muhammad-Reza Fakhr-Rohani <fxr41yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Comparative Adjectives
Dear Linguist,
Are you aware of any language or dialect in which (either or both of) the
following phenomena exist? The phenomena are as follows:
1.
A positive adjective is followed by a segment, whether a vowel or a consonant,
when it is used attributively, but not predicatively. A hypothetical example
(from English) might be as follows:
the good + (Vowel/Consonant) + picture vs. the picture is good.
Please note that the segment is neither an agreement marker nor a gender marker.
2.
When used attributively, certain comparative adjectives imply emphasis on the
concept conveyed by the positive form of the adjective(s) at stake. This
phenomenon must exist when an utterer used a comparative form without any
positive or basic form earlier used, or when there is no standard of comparison.
A hypothetical English example might be as follows:
The sentence "I want a bigger desk." is used when there is no other desk around,
while "bigger" implies not "bigger than any other desk", but "big+ Emphasis".
In this case, the comparative marker (CMPR) tends to, or seems to, function as
an emphasis marker (EMPH).
I will be grateful for your comments. Please send them to me as soon as possible.
Dr. M.-R. Fakhr-Rohani
Fxr41yahoo.co.uk
dr_fakhr_rohaniyahoo.com
Linguistic Field(s): Pragmatics
Syntax
Message 2: Use of Corpora in Language Testing
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Date: 30-Sep-2005
From: Fiona Barker <Barker.FCAMBRIDGEESOL.ORG>
Subject: Use of Corpora in Language Testing
Fellow list members
I am preparing a review chapter on the use - past, present & future - of corpora
in language testing to be published next year. I work for a UK-based exam board
and would be interested to hear about what has been done to date or is being
planned in the UK and other countries. I would like to ensure as wide a coverage
in my review as possible.
If you know of any references on the use of corpora in relation to the
assessment of any language or have any related information please contact me
off-list and I will post a response. I would appreciate any suggestions by the
end of October.
Please forward this request to colleagues or let me know if there is another
suitable mailing list for this request.
Thank you in advance.
Fiona Barker
Dr Fiona Barker
Validation Officer
Cambridge ESOL
1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB6 1EU
UK
Linguistic Field(s): Text/Corpus Linguistics
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