Task 2: (comparison of play in speech and writing)
Using data collected from task one, this comparison is conducted, including the frequency of (play) in different corpus, elements commonly precede and follow (play). Occurrences of (play) in clauses and sentences, the final step in task two, clearing the meanings associated with the verb (play) in both speech and writing and the differences might be occurred.
In spoken corpus there are 64 concordance lines show (play) as a singular verb, preceded mostly by the pronoun you 13 times, for instance; 's not too bad, it doesn't matter what you play. Mm. yeah, I mean I was gonna say there….. the pronoun they follows 'you' as a collocates, it occurs 12 times, for instance; They play at seven ? That's the youngest? Yeah. The most commonly element follows (play) as a singular verb is it by 12 times, for example; Or whether you scared him after to death! Well play it by ear that's right. With and the follows it in number of occurrences after the singular verb (play).
The singular verb (play) in spoken corpus occurred in many positions such as;
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'Play it by ear Matt'.
the position of (play) in this example is initial, which indicates imperative sentence. (play) means in this specific example play the piano, or making music by using it.
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'they play me up every now and then'
the position of (play) in this example is medical, which indicates declarative sentence. In this example (play) means, manipulation or tricking somebody.
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'play! Rugby union, I play.'
the position of (play) in the last example is final, which means in this case practise the game.
In written corpus, the occurrences of (play) as a singular verb shown in 20 concordance lines preceded mostly by the pronoun we 3 times and the only element, For instance; .. My guess is that we'll get him if we play by its rules for a while. But there was no element follows it. The singular verb of (play) in written corpus occurred in several positions such as;
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'Play us to decide the best team in the world.'
the position of (play) in this example is initial, which indicates imperative sentence. (play) means in here, practising the game.
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'will go and get Texas Chainsaw Massacre and play it on video'
the position of (play) in this example is medical, which indicates declarative sentence. In this example (play) means, show it by the video.
In short, Concordance lines demonstrating (play) as a singular verb are 64 in spoken corpus, and 20 in written corpus. The most commonly element precede (play) in spoken corpus is the pronoun you, which occurred 14 times, but in the written corpus is the pronoun we which occurred 3 times. The most commonly element follows (play) in spoken corpus is It which occurred 12 times, but in written there was nothing.
Task 3 (comparison of wider lexicogrammatical patterns)
Play in infinitive form
The most 5 frequent collocates:
In spoken corpus, the infinitive form of the word play occurred 241 times. Play in infinitive usually preceded by the preposition to, 94 times, take for instance; ... at? Yeah, what do you think of your toys [[to]] play with Mum look at that poor man he's got ..., and followed by the proposition with, 50 times; ... there's no need for it come on [[do]]n't play with it, just take it Will you write me absence ...
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... no points from one game, South Africa have still [[to]] play. So I should think it's gonna be the ...
South Africa → noun + have → finite + play → verb infinitive
South Africa → participant + play → process.
The first clause is independent, but the second is dependent.
So indicates relational clauses
In written corpus, the infinitive form of the verb (Play) occurred in 117 concordance lines, mostly preceded by the preposition to, 80 times, for instance; ... five-year ban to a three-year suspension, they both deserve [[to]] play again. But I cannot see any other members of .... , and mostly followed by the proposition in, by 17 times, for example; ... 'The answer is to stand off and let him [[play]] in front of you, rather than wrestling his way round ....
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... next to me, when you obviously had the field [[to]] play. Why pick on me?' 'I've told you ...
you → pronoun + obviously → adverb + had → finite + play → verb infinitive
you → participant + obviously → circumstance + had → process + play circumstance
Two clauses, starting with when as a subordination conjunction, the first clause is dependent and the second is dependent.
Play as in present simple tense
The most 5 frequent collocates:
In spoken corpus, (Plays) showed up in 18 concordance lines, (Plays) usually preceded by the pronoun he, 9 times, for instance; ... who could replace ? He's, I, he, the way [[he]] plays is virtually unique, isn't he? So I mean you .... . And followed by the article the, 3 times; for example; ... Ooh, how many Tuesdays is this in the row [[that]] plays the dad? Too many. Six? No How, but if we ...
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... 's and , was it David McCallum or something? He's [[plays]] the detective that's chasing him er, in it. And ...
He → pronoun + plays → verb.s
He → participant + plays→ process + detective → participant+ chasing → process + him → participant.
In written corpus, (plays) occurred 19 times, mostly preceded by the pronoun he, 3 times, for instances; ... E. M. Forster's Howard's End, in which [[he]] plays Henry Wilcox. Also due for imminent release is the science ..., and mostly followed by the article a, 4 times, for example; ... But the modern tram could hardly be more different. It [[plays]] a key role in keeping city streets on the move .. . .
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... goalkeeper Simon Tracey, signed from Wimbledon last year. He regularly [[plays]] the ball outside the 18-yard area before kicking it upfield ...
He → pronoun+ regularly→ adverb+ plays→ verb.s
he → participant+ regularly→ circumstance + plays → process + the ball out side the 18-yard area → circumstance + before → proposition
Two clauses linked a proposition, the first clause is independent, the second is dependent.
(Played) in past participle tense
The most 5 frequent collocates
In spoken corpus, (played) in the form of past participle tense occurred, 59 times, mostly preceded by the pronoun they, 15 times, for instance; ... a bad that actually, cos if it did [[Yeah]], they played well the year before they held their own see they ..., and the most commonly element followed (play) in the form of past participle tense is the article the by 6 times, for instance; ... of the children got quite scared of Jan cos Jan [[played]] the part so well ah Joan for life. Frightened the....
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... it weren't me. It weren't me, [[I]] never played . Do , don't get , don't get me into this ...
I → pronoun + played → v.ed
I → participant + never → circumstance + played → process
The two clauses are independent.
In written corpus, (Played) in the form of the past participle tense occurred in 45 concordance lines, mostly preceded by the pronoun he, 8 times, take for example; ... unit that could give away three goals. At least [[he]] played — England colleague David Platt was left out of the .... And most commonly followed by the article a, 8 times, as in the example; ... the clamour for ex-pros. Baines told me: 'Reg Matthewson [[played]] a couple of matches for Bolton before becoming a referee ...
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... as Lovejoy's ____ interest from actress Phyllis Logan, [[who]] played Lady Jane. 'We invented this miraculously beautiful, intelligent creature ...
who → pronoun + played → v.ed
who → participant + played → process + lady Jane → participant
Two clauses, the first is independent, the second is dependent linked with the subordination who.
(Playing) in form of gerund
The most 5 frequent collocates
In spoken corpus, the word (playing) in form of gerund occurred 172 times, the most frequent element preceded playing is the auxiliary verb or the finite are in form of 're, by 17 times, for instance; ... the other one? Play indoor games Yeah Mm, [[you]]'re playing an indoor game now We do in bed don't ... , the most commonly element followed playing is the preposition with, by 29 times, take for example; ... isn't it? What's Samantha? Words, she[['s]] playing with words. We're not are we? No, quite. There ....
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... that match they were lucky. Sunderland won, who were they [[playing]]? Sunderland won. Er Oxford I think. They were winning three ...
who → pronoun + were → finite + they → pronoun + playing → v.ing
who → participant + they → participant + playing → process
two clauses linked with subordination conjunction 'who', the first clause is independent, the second one is dependent.
In written corpus, the word (playing) in the gerund form occurred in 104 concordance lines, preceded commonly by the finite was, 9 times, as the example shows; ... reinstated, and those who took the view that Clasper [[was]] playing power politics with their jobs at stake. The latter demanded ..., and mostly followed by the article the, 8 times, as such in; ... a barren beginning. To match their storming performances [[the]] actor playing the husband had to be forceful, too, and Peter Dayson ...
The previous essay was about three main tasks, data preparation, comparison of play in speech and writing and comparison of wider lexicogrammatical patterns. Some of the main points encountered are; the position of a specific word determine whether the sentence is imperative, declarative or interrogative. Also the various meaning one word could have changes according to the position and the situation. When there is a subordination conjunction, the clause starts with it is always dependent.
References:
Monoconc CD
Course material book 1
Words count:
Task one 286
Task two 371
Task three 644
