Model generation for word length frequencies in texts with the application of Zipf's order approach

Pande, Hemlata; Dhami, H.S.

doi:10.1080/09296174.2012.714531

“…We expect that items which are frequently used are both short and stable. It is well known that there is a tendency for an inverse, nonlinear relationship between word length and frequency [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. Additionally, it has been observed that more frequent words tend to be less often replaced in the evolution of languages [45][46][47].…”

Section: Stability Across Itemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-linguistic conditions on word length

Wichmann

¹

,

Holman

²

2023

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Based on a dataset representing close to ¾ of the world’s languages we investigate differences among languages and between items on the Swadesh list with regard to mean word length from a linguistic typological point of view. Mapping the world-wide distribution of word length shows convergence at a continent-wide level, a Pacific Rim signature, and a tendency for large word length averages to be a recessive trait. The amount of data, which is unparalleled in previous, related studies, allows us to provide more solid estimates and accounts for the interrelationships between word length, phoneme segment inventory size, and population size than was previously possible. Word length differences between items exhibit robust, universal tendencies, which are discussed in relation to other quantities, including stability, synonymy, and attestation.

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“…We expect that items which are frequently used are both short and stable. It is well known that there is a tendency for an inverse, nonlinear relationship between word length and frequency [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. Additionally, it has been observed that more frequent words tend to be less often replaced in the evolution of languages [45][46][47].…”

Section: Stability Across Itemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-linguistic conditions on word length

Wichmann¹,

Holman²

2022

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Based on a dataset representing close to ¾ of the world’s languages we investigate differences among languages and between items on the Swadesh list with regard to mean word length from a linguistic typological point of view. Mapping the world-wide distribution of word length shows convergence at a continent-wide level, a Pacific Rim signature, and a tendency for large word length averages to be a recessive trait. The amount of data, which is unparalleled in previous, related studies, allows us to provide more solid estimates and accounts for the interrelationships between word length, phoneme segment inventory size, and population size than was previously possible. Word length differences between items exhibit robust, universal tendencies, which are discussed in relation to other quantities, including stability, synonymy, and attestation.

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“…Much research has been done on word-length distribution (WLD) in different languages [22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. e frequency distribution of words with different lengths would not be chaotic but follow specific rules.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Quantitative Study on Dream of the Red Chamber: Word‐Length Distribution and Authorship Attribution

Yu

¹

,

Liu

²

,

Feng

³

2022

Complexity

1

0

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This paper investigates the distribution characteristics of word lengths in the Dream of the Red Chamber (DRC), measured in terms of the number of syllables or characters. The results show that the frequency distribution of words of different lengths in the DRC abides by the extended logarithmic distribution model. A comparison between the first forty, the middle forty, and the last forty chapters shows that the distribution of word lengths in these three parts does not differ significantly, which sheds light on the authorship of the novel.

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Model generation for word length frequencies in texts with the application of Zipf's order approach

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

Cross-linguistic conditions on word length

Cross-linguistic conditions on word length

Cross-linguistic conditions on word length

A Quantitative Study on Dream of the Red Chamber: Word‐Length Distribution and Authorship Attribution

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