Multidimensional description of register variation in institutional domains

• Grant number: 25/04850-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Applied Linguistics
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Paulo Berber Sardinha
• Grantee: Andressa Domingues Pedroso Russi Salaru
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Comunicação, Letras e Artes. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC-SP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/05848-7 - Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Language, Discourse and Society, AP.TEM

Abstract

The project, as outlined in the research proposal, aims to conduct a Multidimensional Analysis of language in use, more specifically of communicative forms associated with institutional fields such as academia, education, and politics. In alignment with Axis 2 of the Thematic Project, the main goal is to identify the underlying dimensions of linguistic variation characteristic of these domains. The central methodology employed to achieve this goal is Multidimensional Analysis, which is aimed at identifying dimensions-sets of correlated linguistic features that correspond to parameters of variation in language use. The main methodological steps to be followed include the careful collection of representative corpora from the domains of interest, in English; the automatic annotation of the texts to detect relevant linguistic features; computing frequency counts; statistical analysis using Factor Analysis; and the interpretation of the resulting factors as dimensions of variation. Statistical tests will also be conducted to assess the proportion of variation captured by the different corpus strata. This research proposal will benefit from the extensive international interinstitutional research network set up by the Thematic Project while also strengthening international academic collaboration, in line with the overarching goal of expanding the reach of Multidimensional Analysis as a linguistic analytical approach. The results will contribute to a comprehensive and detailed description of institutional domains, thereby enabling a better understanding of their linguistic makeup and influence in contemporary society.