
Scientists at the University of Vermont and The MITRE Corporation have used a data set of billions of words to confirm the 1969 ‘Pollyanna Hypothesis’; the theory that there is a universal human tendency to use positive words.
The scientist used twenty-four types of sources to gather billions of words, ranging from books and news outlets to movie subtitles and music lyrics. The identified ten thousand of the most frequently use words in ten languages, of interest to both English and Modern Languages applicants : English, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Chinese, Russian, Indonesian and Arabic. Native speakers rated the words on a nine-point scale from a frowning face to a broadly smiling one and an average was found for each word.
What the scientists call ‘highest average word happiness’ ranges across these languages from Chinese with the lowest, to Spanish with the highest, but every single one of the twenty four languages skewed above the neutral score of five.
The team of scientists has also developed a ‘hedonometer’ or happiness meter, which can now trace the global happiness signal from English-language Twitter posts. HSPS and PPE students can consider the value of social media and language in relation to policy and diplomacy. The goal is to apply this hedonometer to explore happiness signals in many languages and from many sources beyond Twitter.
Psychology students should consider why we associate certain words with positivity, and what might have caused this universal phenomenon.
More Resources
-
History of Art Reading List History of Art at Oxford and Cambridge allows you to... Read more >
-
English Language and Literature Reading List If you're applying for English, have a look at our... Read more >
-
Download a Philosophy Personal Statement “Philosophy of the mind is my particular interest, especially the... Read more >
-
5 Easy Ways To Support Your Son Or Daughter Before Their Oxbridge Interviews The weeks before the Oxford and Cambridge interviews are a... Read more >
-
ELAT overview If you’re applying for English, or its joint schools, you... Read more >
-
TSA overview A huge range of subjects at both Oxford and Cambridge... Read more >
-
PAT mini mock paper & answers The Physics Aptitude Test or PAT is required by Oxford... Read more >
-
LNAT mini mock paper & answers The LNAT, required for those applying for Law at Oxford... Read more >
-
Access and Financial Support at Oxbridge As two of the world’s top universities, both Oxford and... Read more >
-
Modern Languages and Linguistics Reading Lists Applying for languages? It’s always difficult to narrow down what... Read more >
-
Download a Medicine Personal Statement 2 “Further work experience has highlighted some of the demands and challenges... Read more >
-
Information on choosing a course at Oxford or Cambridge “Perhaps it is because Oxbridge encourages more ‘traditional’ A Level... Read more >
-
What’s the Most Important Part of Your Application? An application to Oxford or Cambridge involves various different elements,... Read more >
-
Outside reading: the key to a good application When it comes to writing your personal statement and preparing... Read more >
-
Personal statement: our tips in the Independent Here are 3 quick tips every hopeful should consider before... Read more >
-
Cambridge Language Test mini mock paper & answers Many Cambridge colleges require applicants for Modern Languages to sit... Read more >
-
English: answer like a pro We have a lot of questions year on year from... Read more >
-
Music Reading List Applying for Music at Cambridge or Oxford requires a range... Read more >
-
International Application Calendar Keeping on top of the various deadlines and decisions when... Read more >
-
Course By Course Fact Sheet This helpful guide sets out by course what grades you... Read more >
-
Law Reading List Cambridge Law and Oxford Law reading lists and recommended reading. Read more >
-
Law: answer like a pro Law is a notoriously competitive subject; this, along with the... Read more >
-
Your free E-book… “So You Want To Go To Oxbridge? Tell me about a banana…” If you are applying to Oxford or Cambridge, there are... Read more >
-
Oxford college snapshots With 35 colleges and Permanent Private Halls, choosing how to... Read more >