Activity 4

Making Deductions from Corpora

 

Concordancing is a very effective tool in enhancing self-directed learning. Analyzing data and recording observations can be quite resourceful to Ss. Following are examples of information that can be elicited from corpora.

 

 

Part of Speech and Word Definitions

They can make a concordance of any given item and give their own definitions to that item in different contexts and different parts of speech. Using Total Recall they can copy and paste contexts, and write their own definitions. Later, this can be used for their own revision of new contexts, or for peer testing.

 

Concordance for 'close'

 

 

 

Concentration Game – Total Recall System Shareware

 

 

 

Multiple Choice – Total Recall System Shareware

 

 


Collocations and Frequencies

 

According to Cobuild Direct, 'terribly' collocates with 13 positive, 19 negative and 2 neutral adjectives. The highest two collocates are 'well' and 'important', followed by 'sorry, 'wrong' and 'good', then 'difficult'. 

Positive Adjectives Negative Adjectives Neutral Adjectives
Well      52
Important      39
Good      26
Funny      15
Nice        9
Aware        8
Interested        8
Exciting        7
Excited        7
Happy        7
Easy        7
Effective        6
Helpful       5
 Sorry      35
Wrong      35
Difficult      24
Upset      19
Sad      15
Hard      15
Mean     14
Short    10
Shy      8
Shocked      7
Disappointed      7
Nervous      7
Dangerous      7
Worried      6
Expensive      6
Distressed      5
Frustrating      5
Jealous      5
Boring     5		 Curious   5
Proud   5


 

According to Cobuild Direct, 'pretty' collocates as a modifier with 14 positive, 7 negative and 4 neutral adjectives. The highest two collocates are 'good' and 'well', followed by 'hard', 'bad' and ý'young' respectively.

Positive Adjectives Negative Adjectives Neutral Adjectives

Good      609
Well     434
Young       62
Obvious      37
Confident      25
Tough      26
Easy      33
Strong      32
Clear      34
Fast      25
Happy     29
Impressive     18
Sweet     18
Quick     20


Hard      87
Bad      72
Difficult     29
Poor     26
Stupid       8
Awful     19
Scary     15

Close      60
Little      75
Busy     21
Cool     20




According to Cobuild Direct, 'awfully' collocates with 14 positive, 11 negative and 2 neutral adjectives. The highest two collocates are 'long' and 'good', followed by 'nice', 'well' and ý'sorry' at the same footing. 

Positive Adjectives Negative Adjectives Neutral Adjectives

Good    22
Nice    17
Well    17
Big      9
Glad     8
Important     4
Kind     4
Helpful     3
Funny     3
Pleased     2
Keen     2
Exciting     2
Quiet     2
Fast     2

Sorry     17
Bad       5
Down      5
Sad       4
Old       4
Silly      3
Wrong     3
Sexist     2
Risky     2
Complicated     2
Tired     2

Long     23
Busy       2





According to Cobuild Direct, 'jolly' collocates as a modifier with 13 positive and 4 negative adjectives. The highest two collocates are 'good' and 'well', followed by 'nice', then 'green' and ý'old'.

Positive Adjectives Negative Adjectives

good      94
well      30
nice     12
green       8
fun       7
lucky      5
large      5
big      5
useful      4
fine      4
sensible     3
bouncy     2
bracing     2

old      8
fat      4
blinded     2
rustic     2



 

   

 

 

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