Microsoft Word Schmid et al. (XXXX) lcm kodierung doc

The Units of Categorization 
As a first step in the classification procedure the sample has to be segmented into units, each unit 
consisting of a logical subject and some action, feeling, or trait ascribed to that subject. 
It depends on the type of material, whether only focussed or also presupposed content should be 
analyzed. The latter is especially useful in media reports. 
Rule (1): Meta-language is not categorized. 
Segmentation 
No Classification 
Not every predicate does constitute a unit fit for categorization. The following gives some 
examples for instances where classification is neither necessary nor useful: 
”This distraction, however, proved to be fatal to the Warrior...” WWF, p.24. 
”His stories were what frightened people most of all. Dreadful stories they were; about hanging, and 
walking the plank, and storms at sea, and the Dry Tortugas, and wild deeds and places on the 
Spanish Main.” CB-TI, p.5-6. 
”His feet grazed the water as the line sagged, but using all his clumsy strength his arms carried him 
upwards.” CB-MH, p.163-164. 
”Thus, the follow-up wars were planned before the first was launched. These were the most 
carefully plotted wars in all history. Scarcely a step in their terrifying succession and progress failed 
to move according to the master blueprint or the subsidiary schedules and timetables until long after 
the crimes of aggression were consummated.” IMT-USA, p.418. 
Rule (2): If there is no reference to the target person there will be no classification. 
Similarly, depending on the context, there is no separate coding for: 

---

”He didn’t succeed in (followed by a verb).” 
”He even went so far as (no coding) to try (no coding) to influence (IAV) his wife to change her 
will in his favor.” 
Supplementary Rule (2.1): Initial denominators of success or failure are not included. 
BUT: 
”She tried very hard (SV) to please (IAV) everybody.” 
”I am decidedly of the opinion (SV) that ...” 
Supplementary Rule (2.2): Initial denominators of success or failure are included, however, if 
they contain additional information. 
Set phrases that are used indiscriminately are not categorized: 
”... that what we have (no coding) is a demonstration of subjects’ sensitivity to a given/new 
information structure.” E & P, p.32. 
”... we can see (no coding) this rhetorical organization surfacing quite explicitly ...” E & P, p.35. 
Double Units 
Example: 
“In fact he was, as everyone knew, a normal (ADJ) happy (ADJ) person.” 
It is a matter of discretion whether the phrase implies that he was happy in a normal way or 
whether he was normal as well as happy. 
Repetitions can be instances of double units: 
“He was a scrupulous (ADJ) person, maybe a little too scrupulous (ADJ).” 
Once again it is a matter of discretion whether the second part constitutes a separate unit (gives 
new information) or is simply meant as a correction or specification (no coding).