ISBN: 978-80-244-5112-1 | ISBN online: 978-80-244-5131-2 | DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121
Text Segmentation for Menzerath-Altmann Law Testing
- Martina Benešová et al.
The leading topic uniting the texts in this monograph is the Menzerath-Altmann law and testing its potential validity on samples in different languages (in our case, in Chinese, Japanese, and Czech), on spoken as well as written samples and on samples with newly established, pioneer unit concepts. The Menzerath-Altmann law is reported to be capable of being applied on such variety of language aspects and is, therefore, regarded as a language universal. The monograph, this way, summarizes a follow-up research based on other pilot experiments held not only in the mentioned languages, and attempts to test the concept of the language universal.
1. edition, Published: 2016, online: 2016, publisher: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Křížkovského 8, 771 47 Olomouc
 |
Contents
Application of the Menzerath-Altmann Law to Written Japanese – Poetic and Academic Styles
Birjukov Denis
DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121.01
The aim of this paper was verification of validity of the Menzerath-Altmann law on two written Japanese texts – a poem, and a seminar paper. The segmentation was conducted on a graphic principle with language units specifically designed and defined for experiments of this kind. With the poetic text, on language levels where strong graphic restrictions on maximum text length could be expected, the Menzerath-Altmann law proved valid with relatively high R2 values. On levels where such restrictions do not apply, the parameter b turned out positive, however the values of R2 were very low. MAL was proven invalid on two language levels of the other analysed text – a seminar paper, disputable on one, and valid on one, with surprisingly high R2 value. At present, more experiments with identical text styles are needed.
Application of the Menzerath-Altmann Law to a Text Written in Traditional Chinese Characters
Lenka Matoušková
DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121.02
This research focuses on a quantitative linguistic analysis aimed to verify the validity of the Menzerath-Altmann Law (MAL) applied to a contemporary written Chinese. Th e research follows-up to the earlier researches which were conducted by Lenka Matoušková and Tereza Motalová, but in comparison with the previous researches, the attention is paid to traditional Chinese characters. Th e paper examines not only a text written in traditional Chinese characters, but also its version transformed into simplifi ed Chinese characters. It is expected that the agreement with a mathematical model of the MAL will be wider for texts written in traditional Chinese characters. Th e results are to be discussed and interpreted.
Menzerath-Altmann Law – Analyses of Short Stories Written by Chinese Authors
Tereza Motalová, Denisa Schusterová
DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121.03
The paper introduces results of a quantitative linguistic research which was focused on verification of the validity of the Menzerath-Altmann law applied to short stories written by two Chinese authors – Su Tong and Yu Hua. The paper is divided into several parts which successively outline methodology, attained results and comparison with a previous research. The last part summarizes the outcomes and draws possibilities for further research.
Menzerath-Altmann Law – Analyses of Spoken Chinese
Jana Kovaľová, Denisa Schusterová
DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121.04
The aim of this paper is to summarize the research that was focused on verification of the validity of the Menzerath-Altmann Law regarding the contemporary spoken Chinese. Unprepared, spontaneous speech as well as prepared read speech were analysed during the research. The paper is divided into several parts that describe methodology, analyses and obtained results.
Menzerath-Altmann Law – Analysis of Content-Pragmatic Unit within Czech Dialogue
Martina Benešová, Petra Vaculíková
DOI: 10.5507/ff.16.24451121.05
This chapter is aimed at applying and verifying the Menzerath-Altmann law on the spoken dialogic text. According to the Menzerath-Altmann law (= the greater the construct is, the smaller constituents are contained; and the greater the constituent is, the greater its accretion) the text has been seen as a text with really a delicate, complex and multilevel structure. The analysis was carried out in an interdisciplinary context. The analytical methods used belong mainly to the fi eld of quantitative linguistics. The chapter provides the idea of a newly established unit on the level of the sentence which will be called the content-pragmatic unit (obsahově-pragmatická jednotka). The method is also unique for morphological units designing. The analysis was realized on a half-directed dialogue from a media discourse, particularly from an entertainment TV show.