Overview

This module introduces students to the theoretical and practical issues of using corpora in linguistic studies and helps them to develop the background, knowledge and skills needed in order to develop and utilize a corpus based approach in their own research projects. The goals of this module are two-fold. First the students will be introduced and become familiar with the technical aspects of course based approaches and research. Then, attention will be directed to looking at how corpora and corpuses based approaches are used in a range of linguistic and language oriented studies. The lectures will provide students with the “big picture”, i.e. different research domains will be explored, central topics are summarized, important studies discussed and open questions outlined. In the tutorials, students discuss key studies in detail and reflect on methodologies, results and implications.

The following topics will be covered:

1. Introducing corpus linguistics, corpus design, types of corpora and corpus annotation
2. Corpus analysis: concordance, wordlist, keyword analysis
3. Integrating stats and making statistical claims
4. Corpora in grammatical studies
5. Corpora in synchronic studies
6. Corpora in diachronic studies
7. Corpora in sociolinguistic studies
8. Corpora in critical discourse analysis
9. Corpora in language variation research
10. Corpora and translation studies
11. Corpora in language education - focus on TEFL.

This module introduces students to the theoretical and practical issues of using corpora in linguistic studies and helps them to develop the background, knowledge and skills needed in order to develop and utilize a corpus based approach in their own research projects. The goals of this module are two-fold. First the students will be introduced and become familiar with the technical aspects of course based approaches and research. Then, attention will be directed to looking at how corpora and corpuses based approaches are used in a range of linguistic and language oriented studies. The lectures will provide students with the “big picture”, i.e. different research domains will be explored, central topics are summarized, important studies discussed and open questions outlined. In the tutorials, students discuss key studies in detail and reflect on methodologies, results and implications.

The following topics will be covered:

1. Introducing corpus linguistics, corpus design, types of corpora and corpus annotation
2. Corpus analysis: concordance, wordlist, keyword analysis
3. Integrating stats and making statistic claims
4. Corpora in grammatical studies
5. Corpora in diachronic studies
6. Metaphor and Corpus Linguistics
7. Corpora in critical discourse analysis
8. Corpora in language variation research
9. Corpora and translation studies / research
10. Corpora in sociolinguistic studies / research
11. Corpora in language education - focus on TEFL.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D: The answer must address the question.The answer must show a basic knowledge and understanding of the relevant key areas and principles of research methodologies and questions as applied in corpus-based approaches.The student must show evidence of being able to apply the principles to the analysis of language and linguistic examples and/or data.The answer must show evidence of some background study.

-good -B: The answer must be focussed and structured. The answer must show a better-than-average standard of knowledge and understanding of the relevant areas of research methodologies and questions as applied in corpus-based approaches. The linguistic examples used in the answer may be based upon examples from the literature but must also include original examples. The answer must show evidence of background study with at least some from primary sources.

-excellent -A: The answer must be highly focused and well-structured. The answer must show comprehensive knowledge and detailed understanding. The answer must show some original interpretation, new links between topics and/or a new approach to a problem. The answer must show evidence of extensive background study using primary sources.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to present and discuss key facts, concepts, ideas and approaches relating to the use of corpora and corpus based approaches in the study of language.

• Students will be able to use major corpus resources and concordance tools such as MonoConc and AntConc.

• Students will know how to evaluate corpus based studies in linguistics and related disciplines that examine language use, reference, categorization, comprehension, cognition and synchronic and diachronic change and or patterns.

• Students will know what the central questions in corpus linguistics research are.

• Students will understand the basic principles underlying the scientific method in general and empirical data driven approach in particular.

• Students will understand what types of research and research questions are commonly used in corpus based approaches to examining language use, reference, categorization patterns etc.