Is it "great" enough? : a corpus-based study of "great" and its near synonyms

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Authors
Cai, Jiutian
Advisor
Riddle, Elizabeth M.
Issue Date
2012-07-21
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (M.A.)
Department
Department of English
Other Identifiers
Abstract

This is a corpus-based study of differences in meaning and uses of seven near-synonymous adjectives: awesome, excellent, fabulous, fantastic, great, terrific, and wonderful. Their frequencies show different distribution patterns across genres and periods. By analyzing collocations of the seven near synonyms with each other, with adverbs, and with nouns, differences in meaning of the seven near synonyms are identified in detailed contexts. These findings are correspondent to previous research on synonyms, and are applicable in language teaching.

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