Word Length Distribution in Zhuang Language

Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study focuses on the word length distribution (WLD) of Zhuang language. The results show that the WLDs of all texts investigated can be described by the Positive Cohen-Poisson model when the word length is measured by the syllable numbers. However, when the word length is measured by the letter numbers, they do not follow any model from the Poisson or Binomial distribution families widely observed in other languages. However, the WLDs of all the Zhuang texts investigated follow the Zipf-Alekseev function either in terms of syllable or letter numbers. Moreover, the research on the WLDs of different Zhuang genres indicates that WLD may not be a sensitive index in distinguishing different Zhuang genres but an effective one in distinguishing different Zhuang styles (spoken or written). Then, the study of the relationship between the parameters a and b in the Zipf-Alekseev function shows that the self-organizing regularity observed in other languages also exists in Zhuang. Finally, the study of the word length-frequency relationship of Zhuang indicates that Zhuang word length is influenced by its frequency, which can be explained by Zipf’s ‘Principle of Least Effort’ and thus follow the law of lexical synergetic subsystem in synergetic linguistics.