This diploma thesis deals with the comparison of adjectives in Russian and English languages from a linguodidactic point of view. The theoretical part is based on the general linguistic knowledge of this particular part of speech and explains the rules for the comparison of adjectives in both languages. Furthermore, the theoretical part also provides linguodidactic context of acquiring this grammatical phenomenon. The practical part is devoted to the analysis of pedagogical documents and textbooks used for teaching Russian and English languages. The last chapter of the thesis shows the results of a research focused on testing pupils attending secondary schools. The aim here is to prove the knowledge of comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in Russian and English languages on the basis of a written test. KEY WORDS: adjectives, comparison, language teaching methodology, grammar acquisition of a foreign language, Russian language, English language, testing of pupils

Cette étude porte sur l'emploi d'adjectifs neutres en fonction adverbiale en grec ancien, sur un corpus constitué de l'ensemble de la poésie archaïque, d'Homère à Pindare. Les données recueillies ont été, autant que possible, confrontées aux données des auteurs classiques et des poètes alexandrins, et replacées dans la perspective de la linguistique indo-européenne. Une étude morphologique montre le caractère récent des adverbes en ως en grec homérique, alors que le neutre adverbial semble constituer un procédé d'adverbialisation ancien et courant. Un examen sémantique des neutres adverbiaux et des adverbes en ως fait apparaître que ces derniers présentent des traits sémantiques typiques d'une catégorie d'adverbes en cours de développement, puisqu'il s'agit presque exclusivement d'adverbes de manière, alors que les neutres adverbiaux apparaissent, chez Homère, dans presque toutes les catégories d'adverbes, ce qui est le propre d'un procédé d'adverbialisation qui a déjà connu une forte productivité. Enfin, une étude syntaxique souligne les limites de la thèse traditionnelle qui voit dans nombre d'adjectifs neutres employés comme adverbes des accusatifs d'objet interne : cette hypothèse ne tient pas compte de l'existence de nombreux neutres adverbiaux qui ne sauraient s'expliquer ainsi, et elle suppose que l'on ait pu substantiver sans restriction des adjectifs au neutre singulier, ce qui n'est pas le cas chez Homère. Cette étude syntaxique met enfin en lumière les étapes du développement des adverbes en ως : ceux-ci sont d'abord apparus dans des contextes où le sujet avait un contrôle sur l'action, ainsi que dans des contextes où l'adverbe est orienté vers le sujet. / The object of this work is to describe and explain the use of neuter adjectives as adverbs in Ancient Greek. It is based on a corpus comprising all archaic Greek poetry, from Homer to Pindar. Whenever possible, this data is compared with the data of the Classical and Hellenistic periods, and put into an Indo-European perspective. The examination of the morphology of adverbs in archaic Greek shows that the adverbs in ως are a recent development in Homer, whereas adverbial neuters seem to have been the default way of deriving an adverb from an adjective shortly before the archaic period. The semantics of the adverbs in ως displays typical features of a relatively new adverbial formation: in Homer, the suffix ως is only found in adverbs expressing manner. On the other hand, neuter adjectives used as adverbs are found in almost every adverbial function, which is the expected behaviour of a very productive adverbial formation. Finally, a syntaxic study of the adjectives in archaic Greek shows that the use of neuter adjectives as adverbs cannot be explained as a special case of internal accusative: this hypothesis is unable to account for numerous neuter adjectives used as adverbs, and implies that neuter adjectives could be used as substantives in singular without any restriction, which is not the case in Homer. This syntaxic study also sheds light on the development of the adverbs in ως: they first appeared in contexts where the subject controlled the process, and in contexts where the adverb is subject-oriented.

Esta tese investiga o modo de organização dos domínios nominal, verbal e dos adjetivos em Português do Brasil (PB), tendo como guia a aceitabilidade de sentenças com todo. Para o inglês, a natureza do parâmetro orienta a seleção de argumentos por operadores; já para o PB, o que importa é a oposição entre tipos de escala. O PB não tem determinantes que distingam entre nome contável e massivo, como much e many. O operador aspectual progressivo não modifica estados em inglês, mas em PB sim. Em inglês, very seleciona adjetivos de parâmetro relativo. Em PB, muito + adjetivo tem parâmetro relativo, e todo + adjetivo tem parâmetro absoluto. Todo é um operador interdomínios, sensível aos tipos de escala. Todo modifica a relação de predicação. Todo impõe condições (quantitativas) sobre como a saturação de um predicado por certo argumento deve ocorrer. Todo não é nem um modificador nominal, nem um quantificador canônico como cada. Todo não cria, apenas modifica uma relação existente. A distribuição que ocorre em sentenças com todo é uma entre as muitas formas de saturação de um predicado por um argumento: uma relação incremental. Se o argumento for quantizado, o predicado necessariamente também se tornará quantizado. Analisamos uma descrição definida (DD) como um sintagma de medida (SM). O artigo definido torna um predicado nominal em denotação quantizada, mas todo não. Relacionamos ser quantizado a ser argumental, e ser cumulativo a ser predicativo. E associamos sentidos diferentes às posições de todo na sentença. / This thesis takes the distribution of todo as a probe for the structure of nominal, verbal and adjective domains in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). Todo is a Degree Modifier (DM) and is sensitive to scale structure. English DMs (e.g., very) select adjectives by their standards; the BP DMs select adjectives only by their scale structure. However, they produce phrases with standard specialization. Todo + adjective shows absolute standard interpretation. We claim that the domains show the same properties in both languages, but the nature of scale standard matters in a distinct level for each one. We claim that todo is neither a noun modifier nor a true quantifier. Todo is a relation modifier. Todo modifies the way the argument saturates the predicate. A quantized incremental argument will make the predicate quantized as well. Todo is not the true source of distributivity, since incremental relations occur even in its absence. Definite Descriptions are treated as measure phrases. The definite article relates noun predicates to situations. So it will change a bare noun into a quantized denotation, which todo cannot do. Each land site corresponds to a different meaning for floating todo.

Submitted by Fabricia Fialho Reginato (fabriciar) on 2015-07-04T00:45:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SilviaFoschiera.pdf: 3755161 bytes, checksum: 0f631548f2054c557658d1a50094a5ac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-04T00:45:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SilviaFoschiera.pdf: 3755161 bytes, checksum: 0f631548f2054c557658d1a50094a5ac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-31 / Nenhuma / O objetivo principal desta investigação é verificar em que aspectos a Semântica de Frames (FILLMORE, 1982; 1985) e o modelo denominado Roda das Emoções (SCHERER, 2005) contribuem na relação entre a linguagem e o fenômeno da emoção, considerando os idiomas português e espanhol. A Semântica de Frames, perspectiva teórica vinculada à Linguística Cognitiva, fundamenta a análise semântica e sintática por meio de um estudo exploratório do maquinário da FrameNet (FILLMORE et al., 2003). Com base nesse arcabouço teórico, realizamos um levantamento dos frames e elementos de frame de verbos e adjetivos que descrevem a emoção, associando categorias semânticas e sintáticas. Verificamos, também, a possibilidade de mapear o holder e o tópico de opinião considerando o corpus de sentenças do Twitter. A segunda perspectiva teórica está relacionada à Psicologia Cognitiva, por meio do modelo denominado Roda das Emoções. Considerando os traços semânticos sugeridos nessa ferramenta, observa-se o quanto, levando em conta aplicações computacionais, ela vem enriquecer um estudo de Análise de Sentimento. A Roda das Emoções serve para identificar a polaridade das opiniões constantes por meio dos adjetivos nas sentenças da amostra. Os resultados evidenciam que as duas perspectivas se revelam produtivas para aplicações computacionais em Análise de Sentimento. / The main objective of this research is to ascertain which aspects of Frame Semantics (Fillmore, 1982; 1985) and the model called Wheel of Emotions (Scherer, 2005) contribute to the relationship between language and the phenomenon of emotion, in regards to the Portuguese and Spanish languages. Frame Semantics -a theoretical construct linked to cognitive linguistics- underlies the syntactic and semantic analysis by means of an exploratory study of the FrameNet database (Fillmore et al., 2003). Based on this theoretical framework, we conducted a survey of the frames and frame elements that describe emotions, attaching semantic and syntactic categories to them. We also contemplated the possibility of mapping the holder and the subject of opinion in the corpus of sentences from Twitter. The second theoretical perspective is related to cognitive psychology through the Wheel of Emotions. Considering the semantic aspects offered by this tool, it is observed to what extent –including computer applications- it enriches the study of Sentiment Analysis. The Wheel of Emotions helps to identify the polarity of opinions contained in the sample sentences. The results show that the two perspectives prove productive for computer applications in Sentiment Analysis.

The present study is based on a translation of a text about wine and wine-making, from French to Swedish. The purpose has been to identify and find solutions for the challenges that can arise in the translation of a text containing numerous descriptions of sensory sensations, i.e. tastes, smells, appearance and touch, in the field of wine. Based on a set of data retrieved from the two texts, our study is focusing on the deviations between descriptions of wine and grape varietals as to their grammatical or linguistic categories in the two languages. We have looked at three different types of descriptions: simple descriptors, metaphors and similes. Subsequently, these have been analyzed from a translation point of view in order to identify which tools are at the hands of the translator to render an idiomatic target text.

<p>This corpus-based study examines adjectives and adjectival expressions used to describe characters in British children’s fiction. The focus is on diachronic variation, by comparing Victorian (19th-century) and contemporary (late 20th-century) children’s fiction, and on gender variation, by comparing the descriptions of female and male characters. I adopt a qualitative as well as a quantitative approach, and consider factors such as lexical diversity, adjectival density, collocation patterns, evaluative meaning, syntactic function and distribution across semantic domains. Most findings are related to a dichotomy set up between an idealistic and a realistic portrayal of characters. The study shows that an idealistic portrayal of characters is typical of the Victorian material and a realistic portrayal of characters typical of the contemporary material. Further, gender differences are much more pronounced, and reflect traditional gender role patterns more in the Victorian material than in the contemporary material. For instance, a pleasant appearance is typically described for Victorian female characters and social position for Victorian male characters. Moreover, descriptions of mental properties of Victorian female characters are conspicuously rare. Such gendered patterns are less distinct in the contemporary material, although appearance is still more extensively described for female than male characters. As regards how the qualities are attributed to characters, the descriptions of Victorian female characters were found to be the most formulaic compared to the descriptions of Victorian male, contemporary female and contemporary male characters.</p>

<p>This dissertation focuses on gender-related terms as well as adjectives and demonstratives in connection with these terms used in texts from the period 1670–1720. The material in the study has been drawn from both English and American sources and comes from three text categories: depositions, examinations and journals. Two of these text categories represent authentic and speech-related language use (depositions and examinations), whereas the third (journals) is representative of a non-speech-related, non-fictional text category. While previous studies of gender-related terms have primarily investigated fictional material, this study focuses on text categories which have received little attention so far. </p><p>The overarching research question addressed in this study concerns the use and distribution of gender-related terms, especially with regard to referent gender. Data analyses are both quantitative and qualitative, and several linguistic and extra-linguistic factors are taken into account, such as the semantic domain to which the individual gender-related term belongs, region of origin and referent gender. Adjectives and demonstratives collocating with the gender-related terms are also investigated, as previous research has shown that referent gender has an impact on the use of adjectives as well.</p><p>The results show that the use of gender-related terms is influenced by both region of origin and referent gender. It is suggested that this is due in part to the difference in nature between Early Modern English society and the early American colonies, and in part due to the social roles which men and women had. Referent gender also has an impact on the type of adjectives used in connection with gender-related terms: adjectives collocating with gender-related terms denoting men have positive connotations to a larger extent than do adjectives collocating with their female counterparts; meanwhile, gender-related terms denoting women tend to collocate with negative adjectives. </p>

This corpus-based study examines adjectives and adjectival expressions used to describe characters in British children’s fiction. The focus is on diachronic variation, by comparing Victorian (19th-century) and contemporary (late 20th-century) children’s fiction, and on gender variation, by comparing the descriptions of female and male characters. I adopt a qualitative as well as a quantitative approach, and consider factors such as lexical diversity, adjectival density, collocation patterns, evaluative meaning, syntactic function and distribution across semantic domains. Most findings are related to a dichotomy set up between an idealistic and a realistic portrayal of characters. The study shows that an idealistic portrayal of characters is typical of the Victorian material and a realistic portrayal of characters typical of the contemporary material. Further, gender differences are much more pronounced, and reflect traditional gender role patterns more in the Victorian material than in the contemporary material. For instance, a pleasant appearance is typically described for Victorian female characters and social position for Victorian male characters. Moreover, descriptions of mental properties of Victorian female characters are conspicuously rare. Such gendered patterns are less distinct in the contemporary material, although appearance is still more extensively described for female than male characters. As regards how the qualities are attributed to characters, the descriptions of Victorian female characters were found to be the most formulaic compared to the descriptions of Victorian male, contemporary female and contemporary male characters.

This dissertation focuses on gender-related terms as well as adjectives and demonstratives in connection with these terms used in texts from the period 1670–1720. The material in the study has been drawn from both English and American sources and comes from three text categories: depositions, examinations and journals. Two of these text categories represent authentic and speech-related language use (depositions and examinations), whereas the third (journals) is representative of a non-speech-related, non-fictional text category. While previous studies of gender-related terms have primarily investigated fictional material, this study focuses on text categories which have received little attention so far. The overarching research question addressed in this study concerns the use and distribution of gender-related terms, especially with regard to referent gender. Data analyses are both quantitative and qualitative, and several linguistic and extra-linguistic factors are taken into account, such as the semantic domain to which the individual gender-related term belongs, region of origin and referent gender. Adjectives and demonstratives collocating with the gender-related terms are also investigated, as previous research has shown that referent gender has an impact on the use of adjectives as well. The results show that the use of gender-related terms is influenced by both region of origin and referent gender. It is suggested that this is due in part to the difference in nature between Early Modern English society and the early American colonies, and in part due to the social roles which men and women had. Referent gender also has an impact on the type of adjectives used in connection with gender-related terms: adjectives collocating with gender-related terms denoting men have positive connotations to a larger extent than do adjectives collocating with their female counterparts; meanwhile, gender-related terms denoting women tend to collocate with negative adjectives.

Aquesta tesi tracta l'adquisició automàtica de classes semàntiques per a adjectius. La tesi es basa en dues hipòtesis. La primera, que alguns aspectes de la semàntica dels adjectius no són totalment impredictibles, sinó que corresponen a un conjunt de tipus denotacionals, o classes semàntiques. En conseqüència, els adjectius es poden agrupar en funció de la seva classe semàntica. La segona hipòtesi de treball és que la classe semàntica es reflecteix en més d'un nivell de descripció lingüística. Les interfícies entre morfologia i semàntica i entre sintaxi i semàntica són les que s'exploren en detall a la tesi. Com que no ens podíem basar en una classificació establerta prèviament, bona part dels esforços van dirigits precisament a definir una classificació adequada. La proposta de classificació s'assoleix mitjançant una metodologia iterativa. Es combinen aproximacions deductives i inductives, cosa que permet evolucionar d'una classificació inicial basada en la bibliografia teòrica a una classificació final que té en compte els resultats empírics dels diversos experiments. / Esta tesis versa sobre la adquisición automática de clases semánticas para adjetivos. La tesis se basa en dos hipótesis. La primera, que algunos aspectos de la semántica de los adjetivos no son totalmente impredecibles, sino que corresponden a un conjunto de tipos denotacionales, o clases semánticas. En consecuencia, los adjetivos se pueden agrupar en función de su clase semántica. La segunda hipótesis de trabajo es que la clase semántica se refleja en más de un nivel de descripción lingüística. Las interfaces entre morfología y semántica y entre sintaxis y semántica son las que se exploran en detalle en la tesis. Dado que no nos podíamos basar en una clasificación establecida previamente, buena parte de los esfuerzos van dirigidos precisamente a definir una clasificación adecuada. La propuesta de clasificación se logra mediante una metodología iterativa. Se combinan aproximaciones deductivas e inductivas, cosa que permite evolucionar de una clasificación inicial basada en la bibliografía teórica a una clasificación final que tiene en cuenta los resultados empíricos de los diversos experimentos. / This thesis concerns the automatic acquisition of semantic classes for adjectives. Our work builds on two hypotheses: first, that some aspects of the semantics of adjectives are not totally unpredictable, but correspond to a set of denotational types (semantic classes). Therefore, adjectives can be grouped together according to their semantic class. Second, that the semantic class of an adjective can be traced in more than one linguistic level. In particular, the morphology-semantics and syntax-semantics interfaces are explored for clues that lead to the acquisition of the targeted semantic classes.Since we could not rely on a previously established classification, a major effort is devoted to defining an adequate classification. The classification proposal is reached through an iterative methodology. By combining deductive and inductive approaches, we evolve from an initial classification based on literature review to a final classification proposal that takes advantage of the insight gained through a set of experiments.