基于Google Ngram Viewer词频统计的英语语言演化趋势的实证研究

A Word-Frequency-Based Diachronic Study on English Language Evolution via Google Ngram Viewer

基于新版谷歌图书语料库(Google Books Corpus),借助谷歌图书词频统计(Google Books Ngram Viewer)交互界面提供的检索功能和高级操作,采用词频统计的方法,对1800-2000年英语书面语是否经历了口语化和信息密集化的演化趋势进行考察验证。考察发现(动词的)缩约形式、疑问句和半情态动词使用频率增加,"of结构"使用频率减少,这些语言现象与口语化进程密切相关。同时,考察也发现,实词相对于虚词使用比例增加,"名词修饰名词"结构使用频率也呈上升趋势,这些现象例证了英语语言经历了信息密集化的进程。统计结果支持了英语书面语经历了口语化和密集化这两个演化趋势的假设。

Based on the new version of Google Books Ngram Corpus and the retrieval function and advanced operations provided by Google Books Ngram Viewer interface, this article attempts to testify whether the English written language has experienced the processes of colloquialization and densification during the past two centuries from 1800 - 2000 via word - frequency statistics. The study reveals the increasing usage of verb contractions, questions, semi - modals, and decreasing use of of - constructions. These linguistic phenomena are closely related to the process of colloquialization. At the same time, the study also found that the ratio of content words compared to function words increases, and the use of ＂ noun ＋ noun se- quences＂ also showed an upward trend. These phenomena confirm that the English language has gone through the process of densification. Finally, this paper briefly analyzes the dialectical relationship between colloquialization and densifica- tion. The statistical results support the hypothesis that English written language has undergone the processes of colloquial- ization and densification.