Predictability in Film Language: corpus assisted research

The question of predictability in film language has been the focus of a number of recent papers by this author (Copenhagen, 2006; Innsbruck, 2006; Saarbrucken, 2007) and by others. This paper will continue to explore those specific identifiable characteristics of film language that distinguish it from genuine spontaneous discourse. It will then begin a search for predictability patterns within the film language genre both in terms of typology (westerns, love stories, historical dramas, etc.) and in terms of typical cinema scenes (breakfast table chat, courtroom sequences, telephone conversations, etc.). It is surmised that once predictability patterns can be observed in the repeated use of specific lexis or expressions in particular circumstances, reasonably confident predictions can be made about how language may be used should such circumstances re-occur. The question of predictability may prove to be useful for the translator of film texts.