Because, x: A new construction of because in popular culture【翻译】

Acknowledgments
This work has greatly benefited from the advice and support of many people, and it would be
remiss of me if I did not take a moment to acknowledge them.
I would first like to thank Dr. Julie Helber, principal of Saline High School; Elizabeth Bodiya
and her 2015 year students; and all my friends, family, and strangers on social media for their
generous assistance and participation in the two studies presented in this thesis.
To my professors and fellow classmates at Eastern Michigan University-I do understand how
privileged I am to have learned and benefited from your input, comments, and
encouragement, and cannot thank you enough.
A special thanks to Anna, Uliana, Andrew, and Sean-to have spent so much time supporting
me on this work speaks volumes of both your linguistic minds and friendships; there are not
enough words to express my gratitude on either subject.
Thanks especially to Sam because, obvs.
Lastly, I am deeply indebted to my thesis committee and advisors, Dr. T. Daniel Seely and
Dr. Eric Acton, for their patience and wisdom. To have had the opportunity of working with
you on something so important to me will forever remain my fondest experience of my
graduate career.
iii
Abstract
This thesis explores the new language fad, Because, X, which originated on the Internet and
was named the American Dialect Society’s Word of the Year in 2013. Since the construction
is relatively recent, there has been little formal research conducted on it beyond Internet
articles and discussions. The research presented in this thesis aims to understand this new
construction through detailed syntactic, semantic, and quantitative analyses. This includes
investigating instances of the Because, X construction from its origins in 2011 to recent
occurrences as well as gathering participant judgments on the construction from two different
studies conducted for this work.
iv
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments..................................................................................................................... ii
Abstract .................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables ........................................................................................................................... vi
List of Figures .......................................................................................................................... ix
Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: Syntax Analysis .......................................................................................................8
2.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................8
2.2 Background ..............................................................................................................9
2.3 Because and Prepositions .......................................................................................10
2.4 Because and Subordinating Conjunctions .............................................................16
2.5 Because, X Restrictions ..........................................................................................24
2.5.1 Noun phrases. ...........................................................................................25
2.5.2 Verb phrases. ............................................................................................26
2.5.3 Adjective phrases. ....................................................................................27
2.5.4 Exclamations and adverb phrases. ............................................................28
2.5.5 Function words. ........................................................................................29
2.5.6 Complement conclusions. ........................................................................30
2.6 Because, X Analyses ..............................................................................................30
2.6.1 The Case Filter and Theta Criterion. ........................................................32
2.6.2 Because, X: Preposition analysis. .............................................................32
2.6.3 Because, X: Ellipsis analysis. ...................................................................36
2.6.4 Because, X: Subordinating conjunction analysis. .....................................44
2.6.5 Because with an interjectionary complement. ..........................................46
2.7 Conclusion and Future Research ...........................................................................50
Chapter 3: Semantics and Discourse Analysis........................................................................54
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................54
3.2 Background ............................................................................................................55
3.3 Semantics of Because ............................................................................................57
3.4 Discourse Analysis of Because, X .........................................................................62
3.4.1 The issue of relevance and complements. ................................................62
3.4.2 Grice’s Maxims and Because, X. ..............................................................68
v
3.5 Experimental Research on Because, X...................................................................76
3.5.1 Research methodology. ............................................................................77
3.5.2 Research results and discussion. ..............................................................81
3.5.2.1 Participant familiarity with the Because, X construction. .........82
3.5.2.2 Participant judgments of the Because, X construction. .............86
3.5.3 Research conclusions. ..............................................................................89
3.6 Conclusion and Future Research ...........................................................................91
Chapter 4: Because, X: A Quantitative Approach ..................................................................94
4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................94
4.2 Popularity of Because, X ........................................................................................96
4.3 How is Because, X Formed? ................................................................................100
4.4 Other Analyses of the Construction .....................................................................104
4.5 Study: High School Student Responses to Because, X ........................................110
4.5.1 Research methodology. .........................................................................110
4.5.1.1 Survey Section 1. ......................................................................111
4.5.1.2 Survey Section 2. .......................................................................113
4.5.1.3 Survey Section 3. ........................................................................115
4.5.2 Research results and discussion. ............................................................116
4.5.2.1 Results and discussion from Section 1. ......................................116
4.5.2.2 Results and discussion from Section 2. ......................................125
4.5.2.3 Results and discussion from Section 3. ......................................129
4.5.3 Summary of findings. .............................................................................137
4.6 Conclusion and Future Research .........................................................................140
Chapter 5: Conclusion...........................................................................................................143
References ..............................................................................................................................147
APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................151
Appendix A: Chapter 3 Study Online Consent Form and Survey .............................152
Appendix B: Chapter 4 Study Principal Permission Letter .......................................159
Appendix C: Chapter 4 Study Parental Information Letter .......................................160
Appendix D: Chapter 4 Study Student Assent Form .................................................162
Appendix E: Chapter 4 Study Survey........................................................................164
Appendix F: IRB Study Approval Letter ..................................................................168

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