The object of this analysis is the triplet of (ostensible) synonyms <oppress>, <repress>, and <suppress>, all of which express an action of subjection and therefore share at least a part of their meaning. Also, all three of them are (in most contexts) commonly translated into German as ‘unterdrücken’. The question is to what extent they may be called synonymous.
In order to answer this question, the British National Corpus was taken as an empirical basis.
Compiled corpora offer the advantage of an approach which is time-saving and potentially free of oversights or slips, as decisions are open to be checked at any time again. Data and methods thus allow for an empirical and replicable analysis of meaning.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. Corpus semantics and its possibilities
- 1.2. My basis of research - the BNC
- 1.3. My object of research - “oppress - repress - suppress”
- 1.4. Means and methods used
- 1.5. Considerations in advance
- 2. Word meaning - different layers of contents
- 3. Synonymy-different shades of parity
- 4. Oppress, repress, suppress - Numerical Analysis
- 5. Oppress, repress, suppress - Semantic Analysis
- 5.1. Possible meanings according to the OED online
- 5.2. Subdivision with respect to the word meanings
- 6. Conclusions
- 6.1. Results of the numerical analysis
- 6.2. Results of the semantic analysis
- 6.3. Ideas for further study
- 7. References
Objectives and Key Themes
This study aims to analyze the contextual usage of the partial synonyms "oppress," "repress," and "suppress" using corpus linguistics. The research employs the British National Corpus (BNC) to investigate the extent to which these words are truly synonymous, considering their numerical distribution and semantic fields. The study also explores the complexities of word meaning, distinguishing between denotative and connotative meanings.
- Corpus-based analysis of partial synonyms
- Distinction between denotative and connotative meaning
- Exploration of semantic fields of "oppress," "repress," and "suppress"
- Analysis of the numerical distribution of the three words within the BNC
- Comparison of English and French equivalents
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the foundation for the research by defining corpus semantics and its potential applications. It highlights the British National Corpus (BNC) as the chosen corpus, detailing its size, structure, and representativeness. The chapter then introduces the three focal words—"oppress," "repress," and "suppress"—exploring their seemingly synonymous nature in German translation while hinting at subtle differences, especially in comparison with their French counterparts. Finally, it outlines the research methodology, including the use of the "WordSmith" concordancer and the planned approach to data analysis: numerical distribution followed by semantic field categorization based on the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
2. Word meaning - different layers of contents: This chapter delves into the complexities of word meaning, differentiating between denotative (literal, objective) and connotative (associative, subjective) meanings. It explains how each lexeme possesses both layers of meaning, with denotation referring to the direct relationship between the word and its referent, while connotation encompasses culturally and socially influenced associations. The chapter uses examples to illustrate how connotations can vary across cultures and social contexts, impacting the overall understanding and interpretation of a word's meaning. The distinction between these two layers forms the crucial framework for the subsequent semantic analysis of the chosen words.
3. Synonymy-different shades of parity: This chapter (details are missing from provided text), would likely explore the concept of synonymy in detail, providing a theoretical framework for understanding the nuances of near-synonym relationships. It will lay the groundwork for comparing the degree of synonymy between "oppress," "repress," and "suppress," establishing criteria to evaluate the extent of their shared meaning and highlight potential areas of divergence. This will likely involve discussion of semantic fields and the influence of context on meaning.
4. Oppress, repress, suppress - Numerical Analysis: This chapter would present the quantitative findings from the corpus analysis. It would focus on the numerical frequency of "oppress," "repress," and "suppress" within the BNC, potentially comparing their occurrences across different registers or contexts. The analysis would likely involve statistical methods to highlight significant differences in frequency, which would serve as a prelude to the more in-depth semantic analysis in the subsequent chapter. Any observed disparities in frequency might indicate significant differences in the usage and contexts in which these words appear.
5. Oppress, repress, suppress - Semantic Analysis: This chapter provides a qualitative analysis of the semantic fields associated with the three words. Building on the numerical findings and utilizing the OED, it categorizes instances of each word according to their contextual meanings. The analysis would group occurrences into semantically related clusters, revealing the contexts in which each word is predominantly used and illustrating subtle differences in meaning even within seemingly similar contexts. This chapter constitutes the core of the analysis, providing detailed insights into the specific semantic nuances of each word.
Keywords
Corpus linguistics, corpus semantics, British National Corpus (BNC), partial synonymy, oppress, repress, suppress, denotative meaning, connotative meaning, semantic analysis, numerical analysis, contextual usage, word meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Corpus-Based Analysis of "Oppress," "Repress," and "Suppress"
What is the main focus of this research?
This research uses corpus linguistics to analyze the contextual usage of the partially synonymous words "oppress," "repress," and "suppress." It aims to determine the extent of their synonymy by examining their numerical distribution and semantic fields within the British National Corpus (BNC).
What corpus is used in this study, and why?
The British National Corpus (BNC) is used as the primary data source. The BNC is chosen for its size, structure, and representativeness of contemporary British English, making it suitable for quantitative and qualitative analyses of word usage.
What methodology is employed in this research?
The study employs a mixed-methods approach. It begins with a numerical analysis, examining the frequency of each word within the BNC. This is followed by a qualitative semantic analysis, categorizing the words' usage based on their contextual meanings as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include corpus-based analysis of partial synonyms, the distinction between denotative and connotative meaning, exploration of the semantic fields of the three target words, numerical distribution analysis within the BNC, and a comparison of English and French equivalents (although details on the French comparison are limited in the provided text).
How is word meaning approached in this study?
The study distinguishes between denotative (literal, objective) and connotative (associative, subjective) meanings. It recognizes that each word possesses both layers of meaning, and the connotations can significantly influence the interpretation of the word's meaning across different contexts and cultures.
What are the key findings of the numerical analysis (as previewed)?
The numerical analysis (detailed findings are not fully provided in this preview) would focus on the frequency of "oppress," "repress," and "suppress" in the BNC. Differences in frequency across different registers or contexts would be highlighted, providing a foundation for the semantic analysis.
What are the key findings of the semantic analysis (as previewed)?
The semantic analysis (detailed findings are not fully provided in this preview) categorizes instances of each word based on their contextual meaning using the OED. It aims to identify semantic clusters and reveal subtle differences in usage, even in seemingly similar contexts.
What are the implications of this research?
The research provides insights into the subtle semantic nuances of "oppress," "repress," and "suppress," clarifying their usage and relationships within the English language. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of partial synonymy and the complexities of word meaning within a corpus linguistics framework.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Corpus linguistics, corpus semantics, British National Corpus (BNC), partial synonymy, oppress, repress, suppress, denotative meaning, connotative meaning, semantic analysis, numerical analysis, contextual usage, word meaning.
What are the next steps or suggestions for future research?
The preview suggests that ideas for further study will be discussed in the conclusion (full text not provided here), likely including further exploration of the semantic nuances, broader corpus comparisons, or investigation of diachronic changes in word usage.
- Citation du texte
- Volker Lorenz (Auteur), 2004, Corpus-based analysis of the partial synonyms "oppress, repress, suppress" with regard to their contextual usage, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/93554
