This paper will at first analyze the building of the plural in the two languages German and English, and afterwards discuss their similarities and differences.
The paper asks for the differences and similarities of plural formation in German and English. Therefore, the author presents some previous literature to get an overview on the empirical state. Afterwards, the data and methodology will be discussed; this part is separated in the German and English plural formation. Both parts will analyze the regularities and irregularities of the formation process of their plural nouns. The contrastive synopsis will explain the similarities, as well as the differences of both languages. At last, the author will recap the term paper’s results in a concise conclusion.
Plural formation could be so easy, if it was as simple as in George Orwell’s "Nineteen Eighty–Four". In this novel, the suffix -s forms the plural with every noun in the singular. Thus, man simply becomes *mans. Of course, the process of plural formation is much more complicated. The plural formation of nouns is a part of the inflectional morphology in general.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Previous Literature
- Data and Methodology
- Plural Formation German
- Five Basic Types
- Irregular Plurals
- Borrowings
- Plural Formation English
- Plural Formation with -s
- Irregularities
- Plural Formation German
- Contrastive Synopsis
- Similarities
- Differences
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper aims to analyze the plural formation in German and English, comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences. The study focuses on the regular and irregular patterns of plural noun formation in both languages.
- Plural formation in German
- Plural formation in English
- Regularities in plural formation in both languages
- Irregularities in plural formation in both languages
- Comparative analysis of plural formation in German and English
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by highlighting the complexity of plural formation, contrasting it with a simplified fictional example. It establishes the paper's objective: to analyze German and English plural formation and compare their similarities and differences. The chapter briefly outlines the paper's structure, foreshadowing the sections on previous literature, data and methodology, contrastive synopsis, and conclusion.
Previous Literature: This chapter provides an overview of existing literature on inflectional morphology and specifically plural noun formation in German and English. It mentions key works in German linguistics (Eisenberg, Heringer) and English linguistics (Schmid, Moessner), highlighting their contributions to understanding plural formation. The chapter also points to König and Gast's work on English-German linguistic contrasts, noting its relevance to the current study.
Data and Methodology: This chapter delves into the data and methods employed in the analysis of plural formation in both German and English. The section on German plural formation describes the complexities of the German system, emphasizing the role of gender, stem alternation, and conditioning factors. It introduces a classification of five basic types of German plural formation, which are detailed in subsequent sub-sections. The English section, while less detailed in the preview, suggests a similar approach to analyzing regular and irregular plural formations in English. The methodology suggests a contrastive approach, comparing the findings from both languages.
Contrastive Synopsis: This chapter, while not fully detailed in the provided text, will likely present a comparative analysis of the findings from the preceding chapters. It will identify similarities and differences in the plural formation systems of German and English, building upon the descriptions of regular and irregular patterns outlined in the data and methodology section. The chapter will likely synthesize the information to offer insights into the broader typological characteristics of the two languages concerning noun inflection.
Keywords
Plural formation, German grammar, English grammar, inflectional morphology, regular plurals, irregular plurals, contrastive linguistics, comparative analysis, linguistic typology.
Frequently Asked Questions: German and English Plural Noun Formation
What is the main topic of this term paper?
This term paper analyzes plural noun formation in German and English, comparing and contrasting their similarities and differences. The focus is on both regular and irregular patterns.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores plural formation in both German and English, examining regularities and irregularities in each language. It conducts a comparative analysis to highlight similarities and differences between the two systems.
What is included in the "Table of Contents"?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a review of previous literature, a section on data and methodology (detailing German and English plural formation), a contrastive synopsis comparing the two languages, and a conclusion (implied).
How does the paper approach the analysis of German plural formation?
The paper analyzes German plural formation by identifying five basic types, addressing irregular plurals and borrowings. It considers factors such as gender and stem alternation.
How does the paper approach the analysis of English plural formation?
The preview suggests a similar approach for English, focusing on plural formation with "-s" and irregularities. Further details are not provided in this preview.
What is the methodology used in this comparative study?
The methodology employs a contrastive approach, comparing and contrasting the findings from the analysis of German and English plural formation to identify similarities and differences.
What kind of data is used in the study?
The preview does not explicitly specify the exact data sources, but it implies the use of examples of German and English nouns and their plural forms to illustrate the regular and irregular patterns.
What previous literature is reviewed in the paper?
The paper reviews key works in German linguistics (Eisenberg, Heringer) and English linguistics (Schmid, Moessner) on inflectional morphology and plural noun formation. It also mentions König and Gast's work on English-German linguistic contrasts.
What are the key findings (as previewed)?
The preview does not present specific findings, but it outlines the plan to compare and contrast the regular and irregular patterns of plural formation in both languages, identifying similarities and differences in their systems.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
The keywords include: Plural formation, German grammar, English grammar, inflectional morphology, regular plurals, irregular plurals, contrastive linguistics, comparative analysis, and linguistic typology.
- Citar trabajo
- Jennifer Franz (Autor), 2020, Plural Formation in English and German, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/899498
