In:Corpus-based Studies of Lesser-described Languages: The CorpAfroAs corpus of spoken AfroAsiatic languages
Edited by Amina Mettouchi, Martine Vanhove and Dominique Caubet
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 68] 2015
► pp. 257–279
Functional domains and cross-linguistic comparability
Published online: 20 May 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.68.08fra
https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.68.08fra
This paper investigates a strategy other than the one currently implemented in the CorpAfroAs project, allowing cross-linguistic comparison among multiple-language corpora. It involves comparing a database of functional domains and subdomains across languages. The underlying principle is that cross-linguistic comparison should be conducted on the basis of meanings/functions actually encoded in the grammatical systems of individual languages rather than on the basis of aprioristic categories. Such a study yields reliable information regarding the differences and similarities between grammatical systems.
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