Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T07:01:35.068Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Quantitative analysis of writing styles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2008

Ernst L. Moerk
Ernst L. Moerk
Affiliation:
Fresno State College, Fresno, Ca. 93726
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

It was attempted to analyse objectively the written style of different authors. Nineteen style variables were defined and the frequency of occurrence of these variables in samples of 1000 words each was counted. The Chi-square method was employed to evaluate the significance of differences found between authors and between samples of the same author. Results showed that all authors could be significantly differentiated from each other. There were much smaller and mainly insignificant differences between samples of the same author. Probable relationships between personality and style were discussed, and problems for future research were pointed out concerning linguistic and statistical aspects of the approach.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Linguistics , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , September 1970 , pp. 223 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Allport, F. H. et al. , (1934). Written composition and characteristics of personality. Archives of Psychology 173.Google Scholar
Busemann, A. (1925). Die Sprache der Jugend als Ausdruck der Entwicklungsrhythmik. Quellen und Studien zur Jugendkunde. 2nd edn. Ch. Buhler.Google Scholar
Busemann, A. (1926). Über typische und phasische Unterschiede der kategorialen Sprachform. Zischft f. päd. Psychologie, bd. 27.Google Scholar
Carroll, J. B. (1961). The Study of Language. Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Herdan, G. (1955). A new derivation and interpretation of Yule's characteristic. K.J. of Applied Mathematics and Physics 6.Google Scholar
Herdan, G. (1960). Type-Token Mathematics. 's-Gravenhage.Google Scholar
Kainz, Fr. (1948). Sprache, Personlichkeit und Charakter. Wissenschaft und Weltbild 3.Google Scholar
Korzybski, A. H. (1949). General Semantics. Towards a New General System of Evaluation and Predictability in Solving Human Problems. Chicago.Google Scholar
Mahl, G. F. and Schulze, G. (1964). Psychological research in the extralinguistic area. In Sebeok, T. A. et al. , (eds.). Approaches to Semiotics. The Hague: Mouton.Google Scholar
Moerk, E. (1964). Ein weiterer Versuch zur quantitativen Beschreibung des personlichen Schreibstils. Dissertation. University of Vienna.Google Scholar
Schlismann, A. (1948). Sprach und Stilanalyse mit einem vereinfachten Aktionsquotienten. Wr. Ztschft. f. Psychologie, Philos, und Pädag 2.Google Scholar
Vernon, P. E. (1936). The matching method applied to investigations of personality. Psychol. Bull. 33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yule, G. U. (1944). The Statistical Study of Literary Vocabulary. London: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar