Milli mála - 26.04.2009, Blaðsíða 343

language is more abstract, static, expressing facts, knowledge and
products. It is a language created for a distant reader, with little
pragmatic reference, and its meaning is decoded only by means of
the grammar-lexical and textual resources, so its index of nomi-
nalization is fairly high, as is the cognitive load.31
Also scientific and technical language has a tendency towards
nominalization, a higher degree of formality, and emotional de -
tachment both in the oral and written forms. Typical features of
formal standard Italian include a large use of passive forms, empha-
sizing the result rather than the process, with subjunctive and con-
ditional verbs and longer or more complex sentences, connected
with rela tive pronouns, conjunctions and other discourse markers.
As for the register, a more formal vocabulary is used.
Awareness of such specific features of texts gives the teacher
hints to devise practical activities that involve deep strategies and
dual code activation to allow meaningful vocabulary acquisition.
In recent years studies in language corpora have provided valu-
able information about vocabulary which can be effectively used in
language learning. Corpora consist of huge collections of language
samples stored on computer database and accessible online for
queries.32 As they are constantly being added to, they provide
updated current contemporary language: authentic material from
different geographical areas, genres, and types of texts, both spoken
and written. Corpora can help learners understand more about
vocabulary usage in context, showing what is actually said or writ-
ten in the target language in a variety of text types.
SIMONA STORCHI
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31 The index of nominalization is obtained by dividing the number of nouns by the total number
of content words in a text; 1 is the highest ratio (which means that all content words are nouns),
conveying a huge cognitive load. See Martin Dodman, “Linguaggio verbale e linguaggio nomi -
nale. Rappresentazione dinamica e rappresentazione sinottica”.
32 Corpora of Italian language include Badip: http://languageserver.uni-graz.at/badip/badip/
home.php (accessed June 15, 2009), CoLFIS (written) : http://www.istc.cnr.it/material/database/
colfis/ (accessed June 15, 2009), Lablita: http://lablita.dit.unifi.it/ (accessed June 15, 2009). A
full list is provided in http://www.alphabit.net/ Corsi/IUlinks/CorporaList.htm#itali ano
(accessed June 15, 2009).
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