Synonymy and Register. A Corpus-based Study in American English

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Background
  • Synonymy
    • Degrees of Synonymy
    • Foreign Loans as a Source of Synonymy in English
  • Register
    • Components of a Register
    • Register and Formality
    • The Registers in COCA
• Study
  • Finding Sample Synonyms
  • Method
• Analysis
  • Couch vs. Sofa
  • Enemy vs. Foe
  • Noon vs. Midday
  • Start [V], Begin, and Commence
  • Stroll, Amble, and Saunter as Verbs
  • Annual vs. Yearly as Adjectives
  • Adept vs. Skillful/Skilful
  • Maybe vs. Perhaps as Adverbs
  • Synonymous Adverbs Referring to Frequency and Infrequency
  • Probably vs. likely [ADV]
• Discussion
  • Preference for One Synonym over Another
  • Patterns of Register-based Distribution
  • Origin as a Constraint

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to investigate the use of synonyms in English by analyzing their frequency and distribution across different registers. The research focuses on exploring whether differences in the formality of synonymous terms are reflected in their usage patterns within various registers.

• The concept of synonymy and its degrees
• The role of register and formality in language use
• The impact of etymological origin on the distribution of synonyms
• The preference for one synonym over another based on register and formality
• The relationship between frequency and register-based distribution of synonyms

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of synonymy and its significance in the structure of vocabulary. It outlines the study's objectives and methodology, highlighting the importance of investigating quantitative and qualitative differences between synonyms.
• Background: This chapter delves into the concept of synonymy, defining its meaning and presenting different degrees of synonymy. It discusses the impact of foreign loans on the frequency of synonyms, providing a foundation for the analysis in subsequent chapters.
• Study: This chapter outlines the methods and procedures employed in the corpus-based study. It describes how the sample synonyms were chosen and the criteria used for analyzing their distribution across different registers.
• Analysis: This chapter presents a detailed analysis of eleven synonym groups, examining their peculiarities and analyzing their corpus-based data. The analysis focuses on quantifying and qualitatively comparing the usage of each synonym across different registers.
• Discussion: This chapter discusses the findings of the study, analyzing the relationships between the frequency, register-based distribution, and etymological origin of synonyms. It explores whether the study's assumptions regarding the influence of formality and register on synonym choice are supported by the data.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study explores the nuances of synonymy in English, particularly focusing on the interplay of register and formality. The research investigates the distribution of synonyms across different registers, analyzing quantitative and qualitative differences in their usage. The study also examines the influence of etymological origin, specifically the Germanic vs. Romance distinction, on the preference for certain synonyms.