基于语料库的英文软件EULA格式与语言分析

A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Formats and Language of English EULA

终端用户许可协议(end user license agreement,EULA)是软件许可方与用户之间达成的法律文件。英文软件通常附带一个英文版本的EULA,它具有独特的语言与格式特征。通过分层抽样,获取28个国际流行的英文软件EULA,并利用语料库技术对其进行了格式和语言特征分析。结果发现,典型的EULA包含多个内容模块。与普通期刊书面语相比,EULA倾向使用更多学术词汇与长词,但词汇密度较低。在句法上,EULA倾向使用长句和被动句。这些研究结果对软件终端用户及EULA设计者均有重要启示。

EULA（End User License Agreement）is a legal document between a software licensor and an end user. English software products are usually accompanied by English versions of EULAs,which have u- nique features in format and language. Through stratified sampling, this study obtained 28 popular English software EULAs,and provided a corpus-based analysis of the features. The results show that typical EU- LAs have various components. Key sections are usually in uppercases, bold fonts, or underlined to make them conspicuous. Compared with common journal articles,EULAs tend to use more academic words and long words,having a smaller type-token ratio. Long sentences and passive voice are also more frequently used in EUI.As. The findings have significant implications for end users as well as designers of EULAs.