A Level English Language (9093) Paper 3: N-Gram Graphs (2022 Past Papers)

Summary

This video delves into the concept of anagram graphs, which are instrumental in analyzing word and phrase frequency within a corpus. A corpus, being a structured collection of text, allows us to observe linguistic shifts over time. The video explores how anagram graphs illustrate the evolution of language, including semantic shifts and colloquialisms. It uses examples from past papers to demonstrate changes in word usage, such as the rise of 'inappropriate' over 'unbecoming' and the decline of traditional forms in favor of 'etc.' The video also discusses the impact of digital communication on language simplification and efficiency.

Takeaways

• 📚 An anagram graph is a tool used to analyze the frequency of words or phrases within a corpus, which is a large collection of text.
• 🕰️ The graph serves as a time machine, allowing us to observe changes in language usage and the impact of cultural and social changes over time.
• 📊 The x-axis of an anagram graph represents time, while the y-axis represents the frequency of words as a percentage of their usage.
• 📈 The height of a line or curve on the graph indicates the popularity of a word at a specific time period.
• 📉 The script discusses how the adjective 'Unbecoming' has decreased in usage, while 'inappropriate' has become more prevalent in modern English.
• 🔍 Semantic shift is identified as a factor contributing to the change in usage of certain words, with 'inappropriate' having a broader connotation than 'Unbecoming'.
• 🗣️ 'Inappropriate' is considered more colloquial and neutral, making it more accessible and respectful in everyday language compared to 'Unbecoming'.
• 📉 The graph from 1750 to 2000 shows a decline in traditional forms and a rise in the use of 'Etc', possibly due to simplification and efficiency in digital communication.
• 🔠 The spelling 'ceiling' has become standardized over alternative spellings like 'cielings', aligning with modern pronunciation.
• 📊 The graph indicates a shift from 'is become' to 'has become' in expressing the present perfect tense, reflecting grammatical consistency.
• ⬇️ The term 'incorrigible' has seen a decline in usage, possibly due to its specificity, while 'wayward' remains relevant and versatile in describing behavior.

Q & A

What is an anagram graph?

An anagram graph is a tool used to examine the frequency of words or phrases within a given corpus. It helps in studying changes in language usage, the rise and fall of certain words or phrases, and the impact of cultural, social, and technological changes on language.

What is a corpus in the context of language analysis?

A corpus is a large and structured collection of written, spoken, or recorded text. It serves as a body of text from which linguistic information can be extracted for analysis.

How does an anagram graph function as a time machine?

An anagram graph functions as a time machine by allowing us to observe how certain words have gained or lost popularity over time, how grammatical structures have evolved, and how language has adapted to cultural and social changes throughout different time periods.

What does the x-axis represent in an anagram graph?

In an anagram graph, the x-axis represents a time period, indicating the progression of years.

What does the y-axis represent in an anagram graph?

The y-axis in an anagram graph represents the frequency of the words as a percentage, showing how frequently these words appear.

Why has the term 'inappropriate' gained popularity over 'unbecoming'?

The term 'inappropriate' has gained popularity over 'unbecoming' due to semantic shift, where societal norms and values have evolved, broadening the concept of unacceptable behavior. 'Inappropriate' also has a broader and more flexible connotation and is more colloquially accessible.

What factors have contributed to the decline in the usage of 'these forms' and the rise of 'etc.'?

The decline in the usage of 'these forms' and the rise of 'etc.' can be attributed to simplification and the greater need for efficiency in conveying messages, especially within the constraints of character limits in digital platforms.

Why has the spelling 'ceiling' become more accepted over alternative spellings?

The spelling 'ceiling' (with an 'e' before the 'i') has become more accepted because it aligns more closely with the modern pronunciation of the word.

What does the shift from 'is become' to 'has become' indicate about the English language?

The shift from 'is become' to 'has become' indicates a standardization in the use of the present perfect tense in English, where 'has become' follows the pattern of using the auxiliary verb 'has' followed by the past participle form of the verb.

Why might the term 'wayward' have remained more commonly used than 'incorrigible'?

The term 'wayward' might have remained more commonly used than 'incorrigible' because it is more versatile and applicable in various contexts, such as describing behavior, actions, or even physical objects, while 'incorrigible' is often used in more specific contexts, like describing someone's character or unchanging negative traits.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Analyzing Language Trends with Anagram Graphs

This paragraph introduces the concept of an anagram graph, a tool used to analyze the frequency of words or phrases within a corpus, which is a large collection of text. The anagram graph is described as a 'time machine' that allows us to observe changes in language usage over time, including the rise and fall of words and the impact of cultural and social changes. The video will analyze these graphs and discuss the reasons behind the observed changes in language. The explanation includes how to interpret anagram graphs, with the x-axis representing time and the y-axis showing word frequency as a percentage. The paragraph also discusses two specific examples: the shift from 'unbecoming' to 'inappropriate' due to semantic changes and societal evolution, and the rise of 'etc' as a more efficient and concise term in digital communication.

05:01

📚 Evolution of Spellings and Phrases in English

The second paragraph delves into the evolution of spellings and phrases in the English language, using anagram graphs to illustrate changes over time. It discusses how certain spellings, like 'ceiling', have become standardized due to better alignment with modern pronunciation. The paragraph also examines the frequency of phrases like 'has become' versus 'is become', noting a decline in the latter and a rise in the former, which is a standard grammatical construction in English. Additionally, it explores the changing usage of words like 'wayward' and 'incorrigible', suggesting that while 'wayward' remains relevant, 'incorrigible' may be less commonly used due to its specificity and formality.

Keywords

💡Anagram Graph

An anagram graph is a visual representation used to analyze the frequency of words or phrases within a given corpus over time. In the context of the video, it serves as a tool to study changes in language usage, such as the rise and fall of certain words or phrases, and the impact of cultural, social, and technological changes on language. The video uses anagram graphs to illustrate how words like 'Unbecoming' and 'inappropriate' have shifted in popularity, reflecting semantic shifts and changes in societal norms.

💡Corpus

A corpus refers to a large and structured collection of written, spoken, or recorded text. It is the body of data that is analyzed in linguistic studies to understand language patterns and trends. The video discusses how studying an anagram graph can reveal insights from a corpus, such as tracking the evolution of language and the influence of historical events on word usage.

💡Semantic Shift

Semantic shift is a linguistic term that describes the change in meaning of a word over time. In the video, it is used to explain why certain words, like 'Unbecoming,' may fall out of use as societal norms and values evolve. The shift in meaning can lead to a word becoming less relevant or being replaced by a term that better fits contemporary understanding, such as 'inappropriate' becoming more prevalent.

💡Colloquial Language

Colloquial language refers to the informal speech patterns and expressions used in everyday conversation. The video points out that 'inappropriate' has become a more colloquially accessible term compared to the more formal 'Unbecoming.' This shift reflects how language adapts to be more relatable and widely used in various contexts, making it a more suitable choice for everyday communication.

💡Simplification

Simplification in language refers to the trend of using shorter, more concise forms to convey meaning efficiently. The video uses the example of 'Etc' replacing traditional forms to illustrate this concept. As communication becomes faster-paced, especially in digital platforms, there is a greater need for efficiency, making simplified terms like 'Etc' more popular.

💡Efficiency in Communication

Efficiency in communication is the ability to convey messages quickly and clearly. The video discusses how the use of 'Etc' has increased due to its efficiency, particularly in the constraints of character limits in text and social media. This highlights the adaptability of language to fit the needs of different communication mediums.

💡Standardized Form

A standardized form of a word is the accepted spelling or usage that becomes the norm in a language. The video explains how 'ceiling' (with 'i') has become the standardized form over alternative spellings like 'cielings' (with 'e'). This standardization reflects the evolution of spelling to align more closely with modern pronunciation and usage.

💡Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is a verb tense used in English to describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past but are still relevant to the present. The video uses the anagram graph to show the increased usage of 'has become' compared to 'is become,' indicating the standardization of this grammatical construction in expressing the present perfect tense.

💡Wayward

Wayward refers to behavior that deviates from what is expected or conventional. The video discusses how the term 'Wayward' has remained relevant over time, while 'incorrigible,' which implies a more severe deviation, has become less commonly used. This reflects the continued relevance of certain behavioral concepts in language, even as specific terms may fall in and out of favor.

💡Incorrigible

Incorrigible describes a person or behavior that is difficult or impossible to correct. The video notes a decline in the usage of 'incorrigible' and a rise in 'wayward,' suggesting that the term 'incorrigible' may be reserved for more specific contexts, such as describing unchanging negative traits, while 'wayward' is more versatile and applicable in various contexts.

Highlights

An anagram graph is a tool to examine the frequency of words or phrases within a given corpus.

A corpus is a large and structured collection of written, spoken, or recorded text.

Anagram graphs can study changes in language usage and the impact of cultural, social, and technological changes on language.

The graph acts as a time machine, exploring how words gained or lost popularity over time.

The x-axis of the graph represents a time period, and the y-axis represents the frequency of words as a percentage.

The graph may include separate lines or curves for each word, representing their frequency over time.

The usage of adjectives 'unbecoming' and 'inappropriate' has changed over time, with 'inappropriate' gaining popularity.

Semantic shift may be a factor behind the change in usage of 'unbecoming' and 'inappropriate'.

Colloquial language has made 'inappropriate' a more accessible term compared to the formal 'unbecoming'.

The graph shows a decline in the usage of traditional forms and a rise in the usage of 'etc.'

Simplification and efficiency in conveying messages could be reasons behind the increased use of 'etc.'

The graph from 1750 to 2000 shows a decline in alternative spellings and an increase in usage of 'ceiling'.

Changes in spelling align with modern pronunciation, as seen with the word 'ceiling'.

The phrase 'has become' has become more frequent compared to 'is become' or 'has began'.

The graph indicates a decline in usage of 'incorrigible' and a rise in 'wayward' as terms for unacceptable behavior.

The term 'wayward' may have remained relevant due to its versatility in describing behavior or physical objects.

The term 'incorrigible' is often used in specific contexts, such as describing someone's character.

Transcripts

hello everyone welcome back to my

channel in today's video we'll be

focusing on paper three question one and

taking a closer look at Tech C that is

in Campground

what exactly is an anagram graph

engram graph is a great tool to examine

the frequency of words or phrases within

a given Corpus and what is a corpus it's

a large and structured collection of

written spoken or the recorded text

by studying the engram graph we can

study changes in language usage the rise

and fall of certain words or phrases and

even we can trace the impact of cultural

social technological changes on language

the Android graph acts as a time machine

taking us back to different time periods

in history to explore how certain words

had gained or lost popularity over time

how grammatical structures have evolved

how language has adapted the cultural

and social changes

throughout this video we'll be analyzing

the anagram graph And discussing the

reasons behind the changes we observe

with explore how line which has adapted

and transformed over the years

make sure to hit that subscribe button

and turn on notification so you won't

miss any of my upcoming videos on

language analysis to analyze the engram

graph we need to consider a few things

first the first thing to understand is a

graph interpretation the x-axis

represents a time period indicating the

progression of years

and the y-axis represents the frequency

of the words as a percentage the values

on the y-axis indicate how frequently

these words appear the graph may include

separate lines of Curves for each word

representing their respective frequency

over time height of the line at each

point on the x-axis indicate the

frequency the word during that specific

years

let me show you the anagram graph that

was given in October November 2022 past

paper

and engram graph shows here how the

usage of given adjectives of that is

Unbecoming and inappropriate has a

change over time Unbecoming has been

more prevalent in the earlier years

representing the language of the time as

the language evolved inappropriate has

gained popularity as a more commonly

used term

and the reduction in the frequency of

the adjective Unbecoming and increased

use of the term inappropriate in Modern

English can be attributed to several

factors

and what are those factors uh the first

one uh may be semantic shift

semantic shift means the meaning change

on becoming traditionally refers to

becoming to the behavioral actions that

are considered improper in terms of

social norms manners or expectations

however as a societal norms and values

evolve the concept of what is considered

unacceptable Behavior may have broadened

appropriate has a broader and more

flexible connotation encompassing a

wider range of behaviors or actions that

are not fitting in a given context

the second Factor would be colloquial

language the word inappropriate has

become a more colloquially accessible

term that is widely used in everyday

language conversations in various

contexts compared to the relatively

formal and archaic sounding word that is

on becoming

the propagate is also seen as a more

neutral and objective term whereas

Unbecoming may carry subjective

judgments

the use of inappropriate allows for a

more respectful and non-judgmental

approach when discussing actions of

behavior that are considered

unacceptable

let me show you another engram graph

that was given in October November past

paper

examining this engram graph from 1750 to

2000 provides Visual Evidence of the

declining frequency of traditional forms

and the rising frequency of Etc as a

replacement

the graph shows are steady decrease in

the usage of these forms over time while

Etc would exhibit an upward Trend in

usage particularly in the more recent

years

and the reasoning could be

simplification

Etc provides a shorter a more concise

for making easier and quicker to convey

the tenant meaning another reason could

be greater need for efficiency in

conveying messages using digital

platforms

Etc fits well within the constraints of

character limits in-text social media

let me show you another anagram graph

from my June 2022 past paper we can

observe a decline in the frequency of

the alternative spellings year over time

while the word ceiling demonstrates an

increase in usage

hear the word ceiling that is e i l i n

g has become the accepted in the

standardized form of the world while the

word plaster and the Play Store and

cielings this spelling they all have

become fallen out of favor due to

changes in spelling

in the case of ceiling that is C or E L

I N G uh the change to the spelling

c-e-r-l-i-n-g aligns more closely with

the modern pronunciation

from the same months and here we have

another n-gram graph and here the grand

Graham graph shows a higher frequency or

the phrase has become as compared to the

phrase is become or the period from 1720

to 2000.

the graph that indicates decline in the

usage of the phrase is become and the

corresponding rise in the usage of the

phrase has begun which is a perfect

construction for expressing the present

perfect tense in English

has become is a standard grammatical

Construction in English and it follows

the patterns of using the auxiliary verb

has followed by the past participle form

of the verb this structure has remained

consistent over time

here the graph from May June 2022 shows

a higher frequency for Wayward as

compared to the word impossible over the

period from 1700 to 2000 though

incorrigible was used in more uh in the

past

the graph data indicates a decline in

the usage of incorrigible and relatively

higher frequency

for Wayward as a term more acceptable

and commonly used in English language

usage

the concept of behavior associated with

being Wayward may have remained relevant

throughout the centuries as an

employee's deviation from expected or

conventional Behavior

on the other hand the term incorrigible

which refers to the person or behavior

that is difficult impossible to correct

may have become less commonly used and

replaced by the alternative terms

we were maybe more versatile and

applicable in different contexts such as

describing Behavior actions or even

physical objects

incorrigible on the other hand is often

used in more specific contexts such as

describing someone's character or

unchanging negative trade and maybe it

is commonly used in everyday

conversation