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A. British National Corpus (Davies)
Note 1: If you are using a non-BYU computer, you may have to "register" after 20 or so queries. It's a simple two step process, and should take no more than two minutes.
Note 2: Input the yellow highlighted search strings exactly as shown (probably best to just copy and paste). Any alteration (however small -- even an unneeded space) may mean that the query won't produce any hits.
GENERAL (INPUT INTO THE SEARCH WORD/PHRASE FIELD)
1. MORPHOLOGY: Look for words starting with the prefix con- (e.g. confabulation). What are the three most common singular nouns (con*.[nn1]), the three most common adjectives (con*.[aj0]), and the three most common infinitival verbs (con*.[vvi])
2. LEXICAL: Search for prophet and then compare the frequency in all 70 registers (by clicking on [1] in the results window). In which three registers is it the most/least common?
3. LEXICO-GRAMMAR: Look at the top five adjectives following come and go (e.g. = come [aj*]). Is there any pattern in terms of which adjectives occur with the two verbs?
4. SEMANTICS I: Compare the collocates of sheer/utter/total ( use {sheer/utter/total} [nn*] ). Any patterns here?
5. SEMANTICS II: Compare the adjectives occurring near boy and girl (boy/girl as search word, select SURROUNDING words, ADJ.ALL, 5 words to left, 5 words to right). Anything interesting?
6. COLLOCATIONS: What are the 7-8 most frequent nouns with treasure (treasure as search word, select SURROUNDING words, NOUN.ALL, 5 words to left, 5 words to right). Any surprises?
COMPARING REGISTERS (INPUT INTO THE SEARCH WORD/PHRASE FIELD)
7. LEXICO-GRAMMAR: Compare the 8-10 most common phrases with we [v*] in SPOKEN vs ACADEMIC (e.g. we hope that). What is the major difference between the two registers?
8. LEXICAL: Compare the most frequent singular nouns (= [nn1]) in FICTION vs ACADEMIC. Which types are more common in each register?
B. Historical: TIME Corpus of American English (Davies)
9. LEXICON: Has the frequency of the words and phrases end up, basically, and turn on increased or decreased over the past 100 years? (Use "CHARTS")
10. MORPHOLOGY: What are the five most common words ending in -gate (e.g. *gate) that appear for the first time in the 1990s (i.e. set Section 1 to 1990s and Section 2 to 1980s). Any surprises? Does this relate to anything going on in society during this time?
11. SYNTAX: Has the frequency of phrasal verbs with on (e.g. to turn on, to take on) (i.e. to [v*] up) increased or decreased over the past 100 years?
12. SEMANTICS: Look at the collocates with chip (i.e. chip + Surrounding Words) over the past 100 years. What are some new meanings in the past 20-30 years, and meanings that have decreased or disappeared since the 1920s-1940s?
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