Article published In:
Register Studies: Online-First Articles

Measuring the linguistic similarity of discourse from open-world role-playing games to the real world through an additive multidimensional analysis

ORCID logo | Georgia State University

Digital games can provide rich sources of second language (L2) input; however, the extent to which gaming discourse is similar to real-world discourse has been a topic of debate in the computer-assisted language learning community. To quantitatively measure the extent to which gaming discourse shares linguistic similarity with real-world discourse, this study reports the findings of an additive multidimensional (MD) analysis comparing registers in open-world role-playing games to real-world registers using Biber’s (1988) Dimension 1: ‘Involved versus Informational Production.’ Results indicate that gaming discourse provides extensive language exposure that shares much linguistic similarity across a wide range of real-world contexts. Importantly, however, these similarities only become salient when the situational characteristics of gaming discourse are considered and parsed appropriately into register categories.

Keywords: digital games, video games, gaming discourse, L2 input, multidimensional analysis, register analysis
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Method
    • 2.1The single player offline game corpus and its representativeness
      • 2.1.1SPOC compilation
    • 2.2Data analysis
    • 2.3Calculating D1 scores
    • 2.4Methodological limitations related to short text lengths
  • 3.Results and discussion
    • 3.1Interactive and immersive speech
    • 3.2Lore
    • 3.3Quest Stages and Tutorial Text
    • 3.4Quest objectives and character text
  • 4.Conclusion, limitations, and direction for future research
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 18 June 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/rs.23001.dix
References
Al-Surmi, M.
(2022) TV shows, authenticity, and language learning: A corpus-based study. Register Studies, 4 (1), 30–54. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Berber Sardinha, T., Pinto, M., Mayber, C., Zuppardi, M., & Kauffmann, C.
(2019) Adding registers to a previous multi-dimensional analysis. In T. Berber Sardinha & M. Pinto (Eds.), Multi-Dimensional Analysis: Research Methods and Current Issues (pp. 165–186): Bloomsbury. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Bethesda Game Studios
(2011) The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim [Digital game]. Bethesda Softworks.Google Scholar
(2015) Fallout 4 1 [Digital game]. Bethesda Softworks.Google Scholar
Biber, D.
(1988) Variation across speech and writing. Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2019) Multi-dimensional analysis: A historical synopsis. In T. Berber Sardinha & M. Pinto (Eds.), Multi-Dimensional Analysis: Research Methods and Current Issues (pp. 11–26): Bloomsbury. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Biber, D., & Conrad, S.
(2019) Register, genre, and style. Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Biber, D., & Egbert, J.
(2018) Register variation online. Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E.
(1999) The Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Pearson Education.Google Scholar
Blizzard Entertainment
(2004) World of Warcraft [Digital game]. Blizzard Entertainment.Google Scholar
CD Projekt Red
(2015) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. [Digital game]. CD Projekt.Google Scholar
Cornillie, F.
(2022) Digital games and technology-mediated gameful environments for L2 learning and instruction. In N. Ziegler & M. González-Lloret. (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Technology (pp. 272–285). Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cumming, G.
(2012) Understanding the new statistics: Effect sizes, confidence intervals, and meta-analysis. Routledge.Google Scholar
Dixon, D. H.
(2024) Introducing the Single Player Offline Game Corpus (SPOC): A corpus of seven registers from digital role-playing games. Corpora, 19 (1), 107–122. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dixon, D. H. & Christison, M.
(2021) L2 gamers’ use of learning and communication strategies in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs): An analysis of L2 interaction in virtual online environments. In Kelch, K. B., Byun, P., Safavi, S., & Cervantes, S. (Eds.), CALL Theory Applications for Online TESOL Education (pp. 296–321). IGI Global. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Dixon, D. H., Dixon, T., & Jordan, E.
(2022) Second language (L2) gains through digital game- based language learning (DGBLL): A meta-analysis. Language Learning & Technology, 26 (1), 1–25. [URL]
Egbert, J., Biber, D., & Gray, B.
(2022) Designing and evaluating language corpora: A practical framework for corpus representativeness. Cambridge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Egbert, J., & Mahlberg, M.
(2020) Fiction – one register or two? Speech and narration in novels. Register Studies, 2 (1), 72–101. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Egbert, J., & Staples, S.
(2019) Doing multi-dimensional analysis in SPSS, SAS, and R. In T. Berber Sardinha & M. Pinto (eds.) Multi-Dimensional Analysis Research Methods and Current Issues. (pp. 125–144). Bloomsbury. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Egbert, J., Wizner, S., Keller, D., Biber, D., McEnery, T., & Baker, P.
(2021) Identifying and describing functional discourse units in the BNC Spoken 2014. Text & Talk, 41 (5–6), 715–737. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Ensslin, A.
(2012) The language of gaming. Palgrave Macmillan. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Forchini, P.
(2012) Movie Language Revisited: Evidence from Multi-Dimensional Analysis and Corpora. Peter Lang. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Friginal, E., & Hardy, J.
(2019) From factors to dimensions: Interpreting linguistic co-occurrence patterns. In T. Berber Sardinha & M. Pinto (Eds.), Multi-Dimensional Analysis: Research Methods and Current Issues (pp. 145–164): Bloomsbury. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Goulart, L., & Wood, M.
(2021) Methodological synthesis of research using multi-dimensional analysis. Journal of Research Design and Statistics in Linguistics and Communication Science, 6 (2), 107–137. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Gray, B.
(2011) Exploring academic writing through corpus linguistics: When discipline tells only part of the story. [Doctoral dissertation, Northern Arizona University]. UMI Number: 3490519
Jabbari, N. & Eslami, Z. R.
(2019) Second language learning in the context of massively multiplayer online games: A scoping review. ReCALL, 31 (1): 92–113. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
JASP Team
(2021) JASP (Version 0.13.1) [Computer software]. [URL]
Johansson, S.
(1982) Computer corpora in English language research. Bergen: Norwegian Computing Centre for the Humanities.Google Scholar
Johansson, S., Leech, G. N., & Goodluck, H.
(1978) Manual of information to accompany the Lancaster-Oslo/Bergen Corpus of British English, for use with digital computers. Department of English, University of Oslo.Google Scholar
Larian Studios
(2017) Divinity: Original Sin II. [Digital game]. Larian Studios.Google Scholar
Peterson, M.
(2016) The use of massively multiplayer online role-playing games in CALL: An analysis of research. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 29 (7), 1181–1194. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Quaglio, P.
(2009) Television dialogue: The sitcom Friends vs. natural conversation. John Benjamins Publishing. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Reinhardt, J.
(2019) Gameful second and foreign language teaching and learning: Theory, research, and practice. Palgrave Macmillan. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Rodgers, M. P. H., & Heidt, J.
(2021) Levelling up comprehensible input and vocabulary learning: The lexical profile of videogames. In W. Valentin & R. Tegge (Eds.), Pop culture in language education (pp. 215–227). Routledge.Google Scholar
Svartvik, J., & Quirk, R.
(1980) A corpus of English conversation. Lund: CWK Gleerup.Google Scholar
Thorne, S. L., Fischer, I., & Lu, X.
(2012) The semiotic ecology and linguistic complexity of an online game world. ReCALL, 24 (3): 279–301. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Veirano Pinto, M.
(2014) Dimensions of Variation in North American Movies, in T. Berber Sardinha and M. Veirano Pinto (Eds.), Multi-Dimensional Analysis, 25 Years On: A Tribute to Douglas Biber (pp. 109–147). John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar