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English and Chinese languages as weighted complex networks

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  • Sheng, Long
  • Li, Chunguang

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze statistical properties of English and Chinese written human language within the framework of weighted complex networks. The two language networks are based on an English novel and a Chinese biography, respectively, and both of the networks are constructed in the same way. By comparing the intensity and density of connections between the two networks, we find that high weight connections in Chinese language networks prevail more than those in English language networks. Furthermore, some of the topological and weighted quantities are compared. The results display some differences in the structural organizations between the two language networks. These observations indicate that the two languages may have different linguistic mechanisms and different combinatorial natures.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheng, Long & Li, Chunguang, 2009. "English and Chinese languages as weighted complex networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 388(12), pages 2561-2570.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:388:y:2009:i:12:p:2561-2570
    DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2009.02.043
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Jianyu & Zhou, Jie & Luo, Xiaoyue & Yang, Zhanxin, 2012. "Chinese lexical networks: The structure, function and formation," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 391(21), pages 5254-5263.
    2. Gao, Yuyang & Liang, Wei & Shi, Yuming & Huang, Qiuling, 2014. "Comparison of directed and weighted co-occurrence networks of six languages," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 393(C), pages 579-589.
    3. Bian, Tian & Hu, Jiantao & Deng, Yong, 2017. "Identifying influential nodes in complex networks based on AHP," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 479(C), pages 422-436.
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    5. Shuqing Li & Ying Sun & Dagobert Soergel, 2015. "A new method for automatically constructing domain-oriented term taxonomy based on weighted word co-occurrence analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 103(3), pages 1023-1042, June.

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