Article published In:
English World-WideVol. 39:2 (2018) ► pp.214–242
Register variation in written contact varieties of English
A multidimensional analysis
Previous research suggests there are register differences between native and non-native varieties of English, as well as translated English. This article reports on a multidimensional (MD) analysis of register variation in the published written registers of 16 varieties of English, and tests expectations for register variation in contact varieties evident from existing research. The study finds that the effects of variety and register are largely independent of each other, indicating that overall, registers pattern in similar ways across varieties. register is the strongest factor accounting for variance in the data, but variety also contributes significantly to variation. Non-native varieties before phase four in the Dynamic Model (Schneider 2007) and translations draw more extensively on markers of formality than non-native varieties at phase four and native varieties. Contact varieties display fewer involvement features than native varieties. Persuasive strategies and reported speech are variable across varieties, suggesting local stylistic and cultural differences.
Keywords: multidimensional analysis, register, ESL varieties, translation, contact varieties, formality, involvement
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Register and language-contact varieties
- 2.1Register analysis and translation
- 2.2Register analysis and written non-native varieties of English
- 2.3Synthesis: Register and written contact varieties
- 3.Method
- 3.1Corpora
- 3.2Analysis
- 4.Findings
- 4.1Dimensions extracted from the new factor analysis
- a.Dimension 1: Informality in written registers
- b.Dimension 2: Elaborated-involved versus integrated-informational presentation in written registers
- c.Dimension 3: Irrealis versus informational narration in written registers
- d.Dimension 4: Speech reporting or retelling in written registers
- 4.2Varieties and registers across dimensions
- 4.2.1Dimension 1: Informality in written registers
- 4.2.2Dimension 2: Elaborated-involved versus integrated-informational presentation in written registers
- 4.2.3Dimension 3: Irrealis versus informational narration in written registers
- 4.2.4Dimension 4: Speech reporting or retelling in written registers
- 4.1Dimensions extracted from the new factor analysis
- 5.Conclusions
- Notes
-
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