Exploring verbal aggression in English historical texts using USAS
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Dawn Archer
Abstract
This article investigates the ways in which we might use the UCREL Semantic Annotation System (USAS) to explore pragmatic phenomena relating to verbal aggression within Old Bailey trial texts dating from the late eighteenth century. Specifically, I demonstrate how this automated system can be used to identify potential leads into what I have called an aggression space, by way of the words, phrases and multi-word units captured by six USAS semantic-field tags: speech acts (Q2.2), im/politeness (S1.2.4+/-), (lack of) respect (S7.2+/-) and violence/anger (E3-). As these semtags, as they are known, have been designed with modern data in mind, I also discuss the problems which arise when using the tool to explore historical courtroom proceedings, and outline some potential solutions to these problems.
Abstract
This article investigates the ways in which we might use the UCREL Semantic Annotation System (USAS) to explore pragmatic phenomena relating to verbal aggression within Old Bailey trial texts dating from the late eighteenth century. Specifically, I demonstrate how this automated system can be used to identify potential leads into what I have called an aggression space, by way of the words, phrases and multi-word units captured by six USAS semantic-field tags: speech acts (Q2.2), im/politeness (S1.2.4+/-), (lack of) respect (S7.2+/-) and violence/anger (E3-). As these semtags, as they are known, have been designed with modern data in mind, I also discuss the problems which arise when using the tool to explore historical courtroom proceedings, and outline some potential solutions to these problems.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
-
Introduction
- Diachronic corpus pragmatics 3
-
Words
- I had lost sight of them then for a bit, but I went on pretty fast 29
- Grammaticalisation of the Finnish stance adverbial muka , ‘as if, supposedly, allegedly’ 53
- From degree/manner adverbs to pragmatic particles in Japanese 77
- Analyzing polysemy in Estonian 107
- On the development of the Italian truth adverbs davvero and veramente 133
-
Phrases and clauses
- “Strong churlish purging Pills” 157
- On the origin of clausal parenthetical constructions 189
- Tracing the history of deontic NCI patterns in Dutch 213
- Front field negation in spoken Swedish 237
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Utterances and dialogues
- Complimenting in the history of American English 257
- Exploring verbal aggression in English historical texts using USAS 277
- A matter of tradition and good advice 303
- Language index 329
- Name index 331
- Subject index 333
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
-
Introduction
- Diachronic corpus pragmatics 3
-
Words
- I had lost sight of them then for a bit, but I went on pretty fast 29
- Grammaticalisation of the Finnish stance adverbial muka , ‘as if, supposedly, allegedly’ 53
- From degree/manner adverbs to pragmatic particles in Japanese 77
- Analyzing polysemy in Estonian 107
- On the development of the Italian truth adverbs davvero and veramente 133
-
Phrases and clauses
- “Strong churlish purging Pills” 157
- On the origin of clausal parenthetical constructions 189
- Tracing the history of deontic NCI patterns in Dutch 213
- Front field negation in spoken Swedish 237
-
Utterances and dialogues
- Complimenting in the history of American English 257
- Exploring verbal aggression in English historical texts using USAS 277
- A matter of tradition and good advice 303
- Language index 329
- Name index 331
- Subject index 333
