Self-embedding and complexity in oral registers

Abstract

This article reports the results of a study on the self-embedding depth of nominal, verbal and clausal projections in spoken corpora of German. We compared two spoken registers featuring public and non-public (i.e. private) conversation by measuring the depth of self-embedding in C, V, and N projections. The findings confirm the hypothesis that the familiarity of the speech situation (public vs. non-public speech) has a significant impact on complexity in terms of self-embedding: speakers use more self-embedding in public speech production in different syntactic projections. In addition, we examined previous assumptions about the differences between right, left, and center embedding in C projections. The results confirm a preference against center embedding in non-public texts, which reflects the complexity of center embedding. Finally, we find evidence that the depth of self-embedding in V and C projections is correlated. This finding suggests that self-embedding depth is part of a general strategy, i.e., speakers select more or less complex structures (of different types) depending on factors of the speech situation.

Mapping the Field of Register Studies: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…Spoken registers include broadcasts (Zhang et al, 2017), public and non-public conversation (Verhoeven & Lehmann, 2018), and television programs (Sardinha & Pinto, 2021). For example, Sardinha and Pinto (2021) analyzed American television programs and found that all the programs can be categorized into different specific registers, such as ''presentation of information, opinion, and discussion,'' and so on.…”