en:eebo:multiword - Příručka ČNK

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====== Lesson 8: Multiword searches======
In the Early Modern English period, there were two different ways of marking the perfect tenses. In the present day, the auxiliary //have// is used for example in the present perfect, as in //It has come to my attention//. However, as late as the eighteenth century, the perfect tenses could be marked with the auxiliary //to be//. These two markings were more or less in complementary distribution, i.e. they were used with different types of verbs. According to the [[http://public.oed.com/aspects-of-english/english-in-time/grammar-in-early-modern-english/|OED ]], //to be// was the preferred way of forming the perfect verbs of motion, while //to have// was used in most other cases. Shakespeare normally uses the auxiliary //to be// with //creep, enter, flee, go, meet, retire, ride, and run//.

====== Searching the corpus ======

If searching for one specific form such as //is arrived//, we may use the [[en:manualy:kontext:novy_dotaz|basic query]] as described in our [[en:eebo:first_query|first lesson ]].

However, in this case we want to find all the possible variants, //am come//, //are come// the query can be written in [[en:pojmy:dotazovaci_jazyk|CQL]] (Corpus Query Language) using a number of regular expressions. Furthermore, the CQL query mode in the [[en:kontext| KonText]] interface is case sensitive, and therefore both variants should be included in the query in order for us to obtain as many relevant hits as possible.

For example, searching for the two forms of the verb //am// and //are// simultaneously requires use of the vertical bar ''|'', which is a regular expression functioning as "or", i.e. it returns either //am// or //are//. Such a query is written as ''[word="am"]|[word="are"]''

By adding the past participle form of a selected verb to the query, for example //arrived//, we get ''[word="am"]|[word="are"][word="arrived"]'' However, this only returns the node forms //am// and //are arrived//. This is remedied with the help of the **round brackets** (), which enable us to create a hierarchy within the query, giving the text within the brackets a higher priority. Therefore, the //am arrived//, //are arrived//, and //is arrived// are all contained in the following query:

''([word="am"]|[word="are"]|[word="is"])[word="arrived"]''

If we want the search to include both variants, i.e. //be// and //have//, we can include all of the possible forms in the query. Furthermore, we want to include all the possible spelling variants (see [[en:eebo:orthography_spelling|Lesson Two]]). The final query could look like this:

''([word="am"]|[word="are"]|[word="[iy]s"]|[word="has"]|[word="ha[uv]e"])[word="ar?ri[uv]ed"]''

Frequency -> Node forms provides a listing of all types found with the given query in order of frequency. Below are the results of the search viewed as node forms.

{{:en:eebo:eebo_pic_08.png?direct&300 |}}

By selecting the positive filter, we can view the node forms individually, e.g. all the instances of //have arrived//. Alternately, we can conduct a separate search for all the variants with the auxiliary //have// and all those with the auxiliary //be//. 

A number of things can be done at this stage, including a survey of the i.p.m. by period.

Frequency → Text Types on the menu bar shows us a list of frequencies by period and by decade. By default, the results are ordered by frequency. By clicking on the text doc.decade we can order the results chronologically.

[[en:eebo:competing_forms|Lesson Three]] gives an example of how such data could be converted into a graph.


<WRAP round tip 50%>
Remember that the construction //to be + past participle// is also used as a means of expressing passive voice. This difficulty does not arise with //arrive//, we must keep the possibility in mind when searching for transitive verbs. In the case of a verb such as //enter//, where the phrase //is entered// can potentially have both the perfect and passive meanings, there is unfortunately not much we can do to eliminate the undesired variant.
Another complication arises from the use of the participle as adjective, for example //I am ashamed of...//
</WRAP>


=== Task: Verbs of motion ===

<WRAP round help 50%>
  * Search for the auxiliaries used with //come// and //go//
  * Are there any developments over the course of the Early Modern period?
  * Keep in mind the spelling conventions and irregularities mentioned in Lesson 2
  * Make sure that the Query type is set to CQL
</WRAP>
Trace: • navigation_en • parser • multiword • frequency_distribution • spell3 • syn2015
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