English is a happy language
English is a happy language because people use mostly positive words.
US researchers from Cornell University and the University of Vermont looked at billions of words that people use to communicate with each other. They analyzed 361 billion words in 3.29 million books, nine billion words in 821 million tweets, one billion words in 1.8 million New York Times articles and 58.6 million words from the lyrics of 295,000 popular songs.
Then they made a list of more than 10,000 of the most-used words and asked 50 people to evaluate each word and give it a score between one and nine, based on how positive it was. The word "terrorist", for example, got an average score of 1.3, while "laughter" scored 8.5.
The researchers found that people use a lot more positive than negative words. Isabel Klouman from the University of Vermont led the research. She said, “A positivity bias is universal. In our stories and writings we tend toward pro-social communication.”
US researchers from Cornell University and the University of Vermont looked at billions of words that people use to communicate with each other. They analyzed 361 billion words in 3.29 million books, nine billion words in 821 million tweets, one billion words in 1.8 million New York Times articles and 58.6 million words from the lyrics of 295,000 popular songs.
Then they made a list of more than 10,000 of the most-used words and asked 50 people to evaluate each word and give it a score between one and nine, based on how positive it was. The word "terrorist", for example, got an average score of 1.3, while "laughter" scored 8.5.
The researchers found that people use a lot more positive than negative words. Isabel Klouman from the University of Vermont led the research. She said, “A positivity bias is universal. In our stories and writings we tend toward pro-social communication.”
Übersetzungen
happy = hier: optimistisch, positiv
researchers = Forscher, Wissenschaftler
billions = Milliarden
tweets = Tweets (Kurznachrichten bei Twitter)
lyrics = Texte
score = Punktzahl, Bewertung
bias = Tendenz
researchers = Forscher, Wissenschaftler
billions = Milliarden
tweets = Tweets (Kurznachrichten bei Twitter)
lyrics = Texte
score = Punktzahl, Bewertung
bias = Tendenz
Answer these questions and send your answers to us at tutor@virtualingua.de. You can do this as a tutored exercise if you are a student with us. If you're not a student with us, email us your answers and test our tutoring--you will get feedback and learning tips from one of our tutors!
1. Do you feel different when you speak different languages? Why do you think this is?
2. If you have visited an English-speaking country, what are some differences in small talk and everyday contact with people, such as at the supermarket, gas station and in restaurants? Do you find it more positive than at home or similar?
2. What differences are there in vocabulary and tone when you're speaking in a business situation in English and in German?
