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 Count
Each utterance will be coded based on the number of clauses it contains:
Simple Clause: Code an utterance as a simple clause if it contains only one verb.
Complex Clause: Code an utterance as a complex clause if it contains more than one verb.
Zero Clause: Code an utterance as a zero-clause if it does not contain any verbs.
Examples of Zero-Clause Utterances:
These utterances lack a subject-verb pair and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Just a noun: "Bear"
Noun phrase: "My bear, Jenny"
Prepositional phrase: "In my room"
Preposition: "Up"
Interjection: "Yeah," "No," "Alright"
Classifying Complex Sentences
Once an utterance is identified as a complex clause, it will be further classified into one of four types:
1. Coordinate Clause
Code a sentence as coordinate if it:
1. uses a coordinating conjunction to link two or more independent clauses. Common coordinating conjunctions include "and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "yet," and "so".
o Example:
§ He came home and went to meet.
§ He likes bacon but she likes sausages.
2. Lists multiples actions (verbs) in a utterance
o Example:
§ He came home, took a shower, and immediately went to bed.
Note:
o a list of nouns, adjectives, or adverbs would not be considered a coordinating conjunction.
§ Example: Sally and Mary went hiking. (NOT a coordinate clause)
o Do not code utterance as coordinate clause if speaker is repeating a word or phrase in the utterance
§ Example: hold on, hold on, hold on
3. DO NOT code an utterance as a coordinating clause sentence if it starts with a coordinating conjunction, unless it continues a previous sentence.
o Example:
§ And you like it. (NOT a coordinate clause)
§ -And you like it. (code as a coordinate clause)
4. How to tell if the utterance is a coordinate clause: Each clause in a coordinate sentence can typically stand alone as a complete sentence.
Types 2 to 4 are considered embedded clauses. Embedded clauses lack a complete thought a require a main clause to make sense. Here’s an example:
o The accident happened as night was falling. [main clause: the entire sentence; embedded clause: as night was falling].
2. Adverbial (Adjunct) Clause
Code a sentence as an adverbial clause (also known as an adjunct clause) if the embedded clause provides additional, optional information about the main clause, functioning like an adverb. These clauses often indicate time, place, manner, cause, or condition of the main event that happened (in other words, the when, where, how, why, or under what circumstances).
Example:
the accident happened as night was falling. (time)
if you know who did it, you should tell the teacher. (condition)
she stayed home because she was feeling sick. (cause)
put on a sweater since it’s cold. (purpose)
· When the main verb is a linking verb (e.g., is, was, became) followed by a noun, and the clause adds information about the whole sentence (not just the noun), code it as an adverbial clause.
o Example: He is a teacher, although he no longer teaching.
How to tell if the utterance is an adverbial clause: You can typically remove the adverbial clause, and the main sentence still retains its core meaning.
3. Relative Clause
Code a utterance as a relative clause if it gives extra information about a noun or pronoun.
· Relative clauses often begin with relative pronouns like "who," "whom," "whose," "which," or "that."
o Example: The teacher who no longer teachers still comes to school every day.
· However, sometimes the relative pronoun is omitted.
o The book I borrowed was excellent. (“I borrowed as excellent” is a relative clause modifying the noun, book. It tells us which book.
· How to tell if the utterance is a relative clause:
o It cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
o It answers questions like "Which one?", "What kind?", or "How many?" about the noun it modifies.
4. Subordinate Clause
Code an utterance as subordinate if it acts as the subject (clausal subject) or objects (object complement) of the main verb.
· Clausal subject act as the subject of the sentence
o Example:
§ That he lied surprised me. (that he lied is the subordinate clause and serves as the subject of surprised).
§ Eating meals at a regular time can improve digestion.
· Clausal complements act as the object of the main verb (often verbs like think, say, know, what).
o Example: She knows he’s coming.
How to tell if the utterance is a subordinate clause: (for complement clauses):
You often ask the question, what.
o Example: I think we'll go home. ("We'll go home" is the complement clause; it completes the meaning of "think." You can ask, "What do I think?" - "that we'll go home.")
Last updated