Previous research studies are in agreement that the
canonical order for English if-conditionals is
sentence-initial rather than final. However, earlier
findings regarding the distribution of the ordering
between initial and final if-conditionals represent
only those patterns specific to the limited number of
genres examined. This corpus study is
based on a research approach which includes a larger
sampling pool and a selection of representative
genres as well as detailed statistical and content
analyses. It examines the variations in the
distributional patterns between initial and final
if-clauses within each individual genre and across
different genres. The findings of this study suggest
that if-conditionals have significantly different
distributional pattern across genres. In contrast to
the consensus view that initial
if-clause rather than final is the dominant clause
order, in 3 of the genres examined, final if-clauses
occur more frequently than initial. In addition, in 3
other genres, these two clause types are equally
distributed. This study thus identifies genre as a
significant factor influencing sentential
if-conditional placement.
canonical order for English if-conditionals is
sentence-initial rather than final. However, earlier
findings regarding the distribution of the ordering
between initial and final if-conditionals represent
only those patterns specific to the limited number of
genres examined. This corpus study is
based on a research approach which includes a larger
sampling pool and a selection of representative
genres as well as detailed statistical and content
analyses. It examines the variations in the
distributional patterns between initial and final
if-clauses within each individual genre and across
different genres. The findings of this study suggest
that if-conditionals have significantly different
distributional pattern across genres. In contrast to
the consensus view that initial
if-clause rather than final is the dominant clause
order, in 3 of the genres examined, final if-clauses
occur more frequently than initial. In addition, in 3
other genres, these two clause types are equally
distributed. This study thus identifies genre as a
significant factor influencing sentential
if-conditional placement.