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Article published In: International Journal of Corpus Linguistics
Vol. 30:1 (2025) ► pp.51–78

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Grammatical complexity in film dialogue

A corpus-based study from a register-functional perspective

ORCiD logo with link | University of Pavia
 | San Raffaele University of Rome
 | University of Pavia
Published online: 23 May 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijcl.23113.for
Abstract
Grammatical complexity has traditionally been associated with the structural elaboration of texts, and, more recently, with the functionally-motivated use of syntactic patterns exhibiting internal variability along the written-to-spoken register continuum ( (2022). The register-functional approach to grammatical complexity: Theoretical foundation, descriptive research findings, application. Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar). Adopting a register-functional approach, the present corpus-based study investigates grammatical complexity in Anglophone film dialogue, focusing on the occurrence of finite and non-finite dependent clauses. Grammatical complexity in film language is assessed in relation to situational characteristics of onscreen dialogue and compared to previous findings on grammatical complexity in spontaneous conversation, with the overarching aim of contributing to corpus-based descriptions of language input relevant for second language acquisition. Results point to a functionally-driven distribution of clausal patterns, balancing narration, realism, emotionality, and economy of expression in the portrayed dialogue. They also show that while film language closely approximates the complexity of spontaneous spoken language, it exhibits distinctive features linked to register-specific communicative functions and medium-related constraints.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Grammatical complexity in film dialogue
    • 2.1Grammatical complexity and the RF approach
    • 2.2Film dialogue: Register-specific communicative functions and linguistic make-up
  • 3.Research questions, data and methodology
  • 4.Clausal complexity in the PCFD
    • 4.1Clausal complexity and intradiegetic and extradiegetic functions
    • 4.2Comparison with face-to-face conversation
  • 5.Concluding remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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