English more often uses words with a positive than negative spin. 10,000 words were given ratings. Data bases included the entirety of Google Books. Twitter and music lyrics which are the closest to popular speech were a bit more negative but still favor the upbeat. Written up in Wired Science.
Perhaps this is not about liking and disliking but rather about assigning value to our experiences and pursuing those with a promise of happiness. The author wonders how other languages rate. My prediction is "similarly". Edited writing tends to be more civil than feelings expressed in songs and in the impulsive screeds that fly out of Twitterland.
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