A Corpus-Based Analysis of Linking Adverbials in Pakistani English

Abstract

Linking adverbials are used to make speech and writing logically connected and have been considered important writing tools in English language. The present study has explored and compared the frequencies and patterns of usage of linking adverbials (LAs henceforth) in native and non-native Englishes.  It examines the distinctive arrangements of LAs adopted by non-native speakers of English in Pakistan and compare them with the patterns usually adopted by the speakers of three native varieties (i.e. U.K, USA and Australia) and three non-native varieties (i.e. Japanese, Chinese, and Singaporean). The present research is conducted using corpus methodology in order to maintain accuracy and preciseness of the results. The results of the present study have revealed that Pakistani writers use more additive, summative and contrastive type of linking adverbials as compared to transantial and resultative LAs. Moreover, the contrastive LA but is higher in Pakistani writings than any other summative or additive LA.