Module QXL-3377:
Fundamentals of Corpus Linguis
Fundamentals of Corpus Linguistics 2023-24
QXL-3377
2023-24
School Of Arts, Culture And Language
Module - Semester 2
20 credits
Module Organiser:
Christopher Shank
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:
- Introducing corpus linguistics, corpus design, types of corpora and corpus annotation
- Corpus analysis: concordance, wordlist, keyword analysis
- Integrating stats and making statistical claims
- Corpora in grammatical studies
- Corpora in synchronic studies
- Corpora in diachronic studies
- Corpora in sociolinguistic studies
- Corpora in critical discourse analysis
- Corpora in language variation research
- Corpora and translation studies
- 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:
- Introducing corpus linguistics, corpus design, types of corpora and corpus annotation
- Corpus analysis: concordance, wordlist, keyword analysis
- Integrating stats and making statistic claims
- Corpora in grammatical studies
- Corpora in diachronic studies
- Metaphor and Corpus Linguistics
- Corpora in critical discourse analysis
- Corpora in language variation research
- Corpora and translation studies / research
- Corpora in sociolinguistic studies / research
- 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.
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Assignment #3. Final Assessment - Corpus based research paper The goal of this final paper assessment is to get you to either develop a research question or questions that can be explored, and answered, via a data driven approach in a research paper format, using a corpus based methodology. This paper will follow a standard research paper format. An introduction that sets up the background for your research question and the rationale for it, a review of literature, a statement of the research questions, a methodology section, a results / discussion section and a short conclusion. It will be worth 60% of the final mark
Weighting
60%
Due date
24/05/2024
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Assignment #2 Replication study The objective of this assignment is to ‘replicate’ a previously published corpus-based paper on a topic and in a subject of your interest. The goal of this assessment is to give you some structured hands-on practice to address a research question or questions using a corpus-based methodology. It will be worth 30% of the final mark.
Weighting
30%
Due date
03/05/2024
Assessment method
Coursework
Assessment type
Crynodol
Description
Assignment #1 Take home CORPUS based data analysis. The objective is to give you some practice working with freely available online corpora, using search syntax, and answering some basic questions about search term frequencies and the effects of different variables. The report generated will be informal, you will largely be reporting your findings. It will be worth 10% of the final mark.
Weighting
10%
Due date
12/02/2024