Expressing Causation in Written English

Abstract

This article reports a study of the ways in which the notion of causation is expressed in written British English. The focus of the study was on how causation is marked or expressed explicitly in the computerised one million word LOB corpus. A total of 130 different devices for expressing causation was collected from a number of sources, and the frequency of these devices in the LOB corpus was established. The use of causative conjunctions was found to be the most frequent of eight major ways of marking causation, closely followed by causative adverbs. There was a tendency for language in use to focus on the cause or reason rather than effect in a causal rela tionship. Causation is also sometimes implied rather than marked explicitly in texts. Because implicit causation is much more difficult to identify, it is suggested that more attention needs to be paid to im plied causation in English language teaching. Comprehension of cau sation is important in language use, affecting both the analysis of in formation in texts and skills such as notetaking involving accurate in formation transfer. The findings of the study provide an empirical basis for the development of course design and teaching materials, especially for courses in English for academic purposes.

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