Aspects of Linguistic Complexity. Comparative German/Norwegian Valence Approach to the creation of resources for Easy-To-Understand Language

For the present project we take language complexity as a key to the study of LS-KS, whereby complexity is seen as one of three main parameters of what we call Transparent Language. Among features affecting complexity we will in particular focus on verb valence, and the lexical and structural constraints that valence frames enforce. In establishing LS-KS (Leichte Sprache-Klart Språk) corpora, we will partly make use of existing LS corpora. The project will study properties of LS-KS relative to those of the standard language, and on the other hand facilitate the derivation of corpora and instructive paradigms for the creation of LS-KS resource for both languages. We aim to create 3 resources: (1) a dictionary for verbs comparing valence frames of a normal complexity with valence frames suitable for LS-KS (2) an addition to the Open German WordNet using results from (1) A similar resource will be created for Norwegian. (3) building an application that allows for the rephrasing of expressions building on standard Norwegian to KS Norwegian. A similar possibility will be explored for German. In the process of creating (1)-(3), we will develop and make use of (a) conversion procedures between LS and standard German valence frames (b) conversion procedures between normal KS and standard Norwegian valence frames. All resources will be made public.