The international symposium on Using Corpora in Contrastive

and Translation Studies, 25th -- 27th September 2008,

Zhejiang University, China

A contrastive study of
comparative constructions
among English, Japanese, and
Tok Pisin: by using corpora in
cross-linguistic contrast

Masahiko NOSE
R Reitaku University Reitaku University,
Advantages of contrastive study

English, Japanese, and Tok Pisin

– Typologically different languages
– Pedagogical/educational application
– Cognitive-functional view
Comparative constructions (Stassen
1985)
– Comparee (A) and Standard (B): A is
bigger than B
– Describing quality, quantity, or manner
– Corpora in cross-linguistic contrast 2
Linguistic diversity in New
Guinea

WALS feature 87 Order

JASS 22, Workshop 2008, 13.
Sep.
of Adj. and Noun 3
Tok Pisin: English-based
creole
 800 native languages in
Papua New Guinea
 Official language in PNG
(besides English & Hiri Motu)
 SVO, Adj,-Noun, Preposition
 Newspaper, Bible, TV and
radio

 Grammar is simple and

primitive
 It reflects human 4
Types of comparative constructions (Stassen
2005)

 Europe: Particle comparative

 Eurasia: Locational
 Africa and SE Asia: Exceed
N=167
 PNG and Australia, South America: 5
4 types of comparatives (Stassen 1985,
Nose 2007)
▲ Locational: Japanese, Korean,
Mongolian
– Tarou-wa Hanako-yori (from) se-ga takai
– Tarou is taller than Hanako
■ Exceed: Chinese, Nguna, Tariana
– Nasuma waia e parua liu nasuma aginau
– House this big exceed house my
▲Conjoined: Yidin, Wari’, Maori
– Amon mixem na womu cwa. Om ca mixem
homa ca womum
– “My cloth is a bit black, your cloth is not so
black”
●Particle: English, Spanish, Russian
– Este lápiz es 　 más largo que ése 6
Parallel text research
Material:
– “New testament” in English, Japanese
and Tok Pisin
Method:
– Finding comparatives with in English text
– Searching the equivalents in Japanese
and Tok Pisin
 Observation:
– Several comparative forms: En: “superior
to”, “surpass”, etc.
7
Contrastive example
(8) Matthew 6:
English: But after me will come one
who is more powerful [than] I.
Japanese: Watashi-no atokara kuru
kata-wa, watashi-[yori] sugurete
orareru.
Tok Pisin: Tasol man i kam bihain long
mi, strong bilong em i [winim] strong
bilong mi.
8
Results and observation: from
English (N=78)
To Japanese To Tok Pisin

 Locational “yori”:  Exceed “winim”: 41

51  Conjoined:
 Exceed “masaru” “mobeta”, “no gut”:
(supeprior), “otoru” 13
:8  Particle STM
 Lexicalized “ijou” “olsem”, “long”: 12
(more than): 6  Parameter marker
 Parameter marker “moa”, “tumas”,
“ijou”, “motto” “inap”,”tasol”:10
(more): 3  Others: 10
Functional analysis (based on
Transitivity)
(16) Grammatical
status of the
standard
 Subject: A is big and B
is small. (conjoined)
 Object:
A surpasses B.
(exceed)
 Oblique/locative:
A-wa B-yori chiisai.
(locational)
10
Summary: comparatives in
transitivity
Differences in standard marker
– English: “than” (Particle)
– Japanese: “yori” (Locational)
– Tok Pisin: “winim” type, (Exceed)
Grammatical status of Standard
– Grammaticalization process
(Subject > Direct object > oblique/
Locative)
(Primitive ----------------- Grammatical
construction)
11
ReferencesMasahiko NOSE, nousemasa@gmail.com
Cysouw, Michael & Bernhard Wälchli. (2007) ‘Parallel texts: using
translational equivalents in linguistic typology’. Sprachtypologie und
Universalienforschung (STUF) 60: 95-99.
Dryer, Matthew S. 2005. Order of subject, object and verb. In: Haspelmath et
al. (eds.): feature 81 in WALS: 330-333.
Haspelmath, Martin & Oda Buchholz. 1998. Equative and similative
constructions in the languages of Europe. In: van der Auwera, Johan &
Dónall P. ” Baoill(eds.). Adverbial constructions in the Languages of Europe.
Berlin/ New York: Mouton de Gruyter: 277-334.
Haspelmath Martin, Matthew S. Dryer, David Gil, and Bernard Comrie (eds.).
2005. The World Atlas of Language Structures. Oxford: OUP.
Heine, Bernd. 1997. Cognitive foundations of grammar. New York/ Oxford: OUP.
Henkelmann, Peter. (2006) ‘Constructions of equative comparison’.
Sprachtypologie und Universalienforschung (STUF) 59: 370-398.
Hopper, Paul J. & Sandra Thompson. (1980) ‘Transitivity in Grammar and
Discourse’. Language 56: 251-299.
Mihalic, Francis. (1986) The Jacaranda Dictionary and Grammar of Melanesian
Pidgin. Milton: The Jacaranda Press/Web Books
Nose, Masahiko. (2007) ‘A typological study of Standard marker in
comparative and similative constructions (in Japanese)’. Proceedings of the
134th Linguistic Society of Japan: 288-293.
Stassen, Leon. 1985. Comparison and universal grammar. Oxford/ New York:
Blackwell.
Stassen, Leon. 2005. Comparative constructions. Haspelmath, et al. (eds.):
feature 121 in WALS: 490-493.
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of parallel corpora in crosslinguistic investigations’. Sprachtypologie und 12
Thank you for your attention
Tenkyu long harim tok bilong mi!

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