Coding for Syntactic Measures
The goal of this protocol is to guide the coding of different sentence structures produced by speakers in the overheard speech project. Specifically, we aim to characterize the simplicity and types of complex sentences used when speaking to different addressees.
Defining a Clause
To accurately code utterances, let’s first define the term clause.
A clause is an utterance that contains a subject and a verb.
Zero clauses: does not contain a verb.
A simple clause contains only one subject-verb pair.
A complex clause contains more than one subject-verb pair (meaning it has multiple verbs).
Examples:
in my room (zero clause; only contains prepositional phrase)
The dog barked. (Simple clause; "dog" is the subject, "barked" is the verb.)
The dog barked because she saw the mailman. (Complex clause; verbs: "barked" and "saw")
Coding Utterances for Clause Type
Each utterance will be coded based on the number of clauses it contains:
Zero Clause (Z): Code an utterance as a zero-clause if it does not contain any verbs.
Simple Clause (S): Code an utterance as a simple clause if it contains only one verb.
Complex Clause (M): Code an utterance as a complex clause if it contains more than one verb.
Zero-Clause Utterances
Utterances that do not contain a verb should be coded as zero clause utterances. Instances of zero-clause utterances consist of the following:
utterances that contain only a noun or a noun phrase
Example:
Noun: "bear", "mine"
Noun phrase: "my bear", "the dog", "his cat"
utterances that contain only a preposition or prepositional phrase
Example:
Preposition: "up"
Prepositional phrase: "in my room"
utterances that contain only an interjection
Example: yeah, no, alright, thank you
Simple Clause Utterances
Utterances that contain a single verb phrase should be coded as a simple clause. Instances of simple clause utterances consist of the following:
utterances that contain a bare verb
Example: "put"
utterances with a missing linking verb (e.g., "is") should be coded as a simple clause.
Example:
"you sleepy" (the linking verb "are" is omitted; the complete sentence would be "are you sleepy")
"Daddy at work" (the linking verb "is" is omitted; the complete sentence would be "daddy is at work")
Exceptions:
for ambiguous cases where it is difficult to decide between an omitted copula or a noun phrase, code as a zero clause utterance.
Example: this puppy can be interpreted as either this puppy or this [is a] puppy.
Complex utterance
Utterances containing more than one verb should generally be coded as a complex utterance.
Exceptions: do not code utterances as complex if it falls under one of the four categories:
modal verbs (e.g., can, would, might)
Example: "She might go home." (this is a simple sentence because the modal might and main verb go forms a single verb phrase).
emerging modals (e.g., going to, have to, need to)
Example: "You need to get ready."(this is a simple sentence because the emerging modal going to and get are treated as a single verb construction expressing obligation).
serial verb constructions (e.g., go get it, come get it)
Example: "Go get the ball." (this is a simple sentence because it is treated as one action).
infinitival complements with shared subjects
Example: "I want to nap." The subject I is shared across both verbs (want and nap).
Counterexample: "I want you to nap." (This is a complex sentence because each verb as a separate subject).
Note: For all of these cases, code as a simple sentence.
Further Complex Sentences Classification
Only complex sentences will be further classified based on the type(s) of clause they contain. These clauses fall into one of the five categories:
Coordinate Clause (CC) - A clause joined to another independent clause with a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but).
Adverbial Clause (AC) - A dependent clause that modifies a verb, adjective, or clause,
Relative Clause (RC) - A clause that modifies a noun, typically introduced by a relative pronoun (e.g., who, that, which).
Subordinate Clause (SC) - A clause that functions as the object or complement of a verb, noun, or adjective.
Multi-Clause (OC) - an utterance that fall under more than one of the five categories.
Examples: "She knows he's coming."
the full sentence itself is not a clausal complement.
However, "he's coming" functions as a subordinate clause to the verb know.
Coordinate Clause
utterances that combine two or more independent clauses and contain a coordinating conjunction (e.g., "and", "but", "or", "nor") should be coded as a coordinate clause.
Typically (though not always) each clause in a coordinate utterance can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Example: He likes bacon but she likes sausages (the two independent clauses are "he likes bacon" and "she likes sausages". They are joined by the coordinating conjunction: "but").
utterances that list multiple verbs in a utterance should also be coded as a coordinate clause.
Example: He came home, took a shower, and immediately went to bed. (the subject is he. the verbs are came, took, went. the coordinating conjunction is and).
Exceptions:
utterances should not be coded as a coordinate clause if it falls under one of the following categories:
coordinating conjunction is used within a noun, adjectival, and adverbial phrases.
Example: Sally and Mary went hiking.
this is not a coordinate clause because it connects two nouns, not two independent clauses.
repetition of word or phrase
Example: hold on, hold on, hold on
repetition alone does not make the utterance an coordinate clause.
utterances that start with a coordinating conjunction
Example: "And you like it."
this is not an coordinate clause when it stands alone.
however, if the utterance continues an previous incomplete thought AND that previous utterance was an independent clause, then you may code the utterance containing the coordinating conjunction as a coordinate clause.
Example: "-And you like it." (the hyphen indicates continuation from a previous utterance).
Adverbial (Adjunct) Clause
Code an utterance as an adverbial clause if one of verbs indicate the time, place, manner, cause, or condition of the main event that happens. That is, one of the verbs indicates the when, where, how, why, or under what circumstances an action occurred.
Adverbial clauses add optional information about the main verb and can usually be removed without changing the sentences core meaning.
Examples:
the accident happened as night was falling.
(as night was falling indicates the time in which the main event occurred).
if you know who did it, you should tell the teacher.
(if you know who did it indicates the condition of carrying the main action (i.e., telling the teacher).
she stayed home because she was feeling sick.
(because she was feeling sick indicates the cause of the main action (i.e., stayed home)).
Code an utterance as an adverbial clause when a copula verb (e.g., is, was) plus a noun is followed by a verb that modifies the whole sentence rather than just the noun.
Example: He is a teacher, although he no longer teaches.
Relative Clause
Code an utterance as a relative clause if the secondary verb provides extra information about a noun or pronoun.
Most relative clauses contain a relative pronoun, such as who, whom, whose, which, or that, although the relative pronoun is sometimes omitted.
Examples:
The teacher who no longer teaches still comes to school every day.
who no longer teacher is a relative clause that modifies the noun phrase, the teacher.
The book I borrowed was excellent.
I borrowed is a relative clause modifying the noun, book. In this case, it indicates which book is being referred. Additionally, this is an instance where the relative pronoun is omitted.
Additional tips for identifying relative clauses:
relative clauses cannot stand alone as a complete utterance.
relative clauses answer questions, such as which one, what kind, or how many about the noun it modifies.
Subordinate Clause
Code an utterance as subordinate clause if it serves as the subject (clausal subject) or object (complement clause) of the main verb.
Clausal complements often occur after verbs such as think, say, or know.
Examples:
That he lied surprised me.
that he lied is a clause that serves as the subject for the main verb, surprised.
Eating meals at a regular time can improve digestions
eating meals at a regular time is a clause that serves as the subject for the main verb, improves.
She knows he's coming.
he's coming is a clause that serves as the subject for the main verb, knows.
Additional tips for identifying subordinate clause:
if the clause can be replaced by what, it is a subordinate clause.
Example: What surprised you? That he lied.
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