Corpus Linguistics (BA)

Code School Level Credits Semesters
EDEN2006 School of Education and English 2 20 Autumn China
Code
EDEN2006
School
School of Education and English
Level
2
Credits
20
Semesters
Autumn China

Summary

The module looks at the use of corpus methodology to study a wide range of areas and issues in applied linguistics. These will include, amongst others, the analysis of everyday discourse and of institutional discourse, the analysis of language and register/genre, English Language Teaching, creativity in language use, and the study of vocabulary and lexico-grammar. The aim of the module is to provide students with an introduction to some of the tools and resources used for corpus analysis, and to help them develop a range of skills needed to analyse computerised samples of natural language. The emphasis of the module is on the application of corpus analysis to specific research questions, and students will have the opportunity to explore the use of corpus methodologies in relation to their own research interests and formulate new lines of inquiry that they will investigate with a corpus approach.
Please note: This module is assessed at the end of the Autumn semester. First sit/ Re-sit exams are scheduled normally in the summer and can take the same form as the missing/ failed component of the assessment (e.g. essay) or other forms, as decided by the Schoo

Target Students

Strongly recommended for BA English Language and Applied Linguistics students. Optional for BA English and International Business. Other students by agreement with the convenor.

Classes

Assessment

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

After completing this module, students will -• develop a solid understanding of the concerns and methods of corpus linguistics with a focus on the application of corpus analytic methods in linguistic studies, literary analysis, English language teaching, and research on professional communication• develop the ability to apply corpus analytic methods in literary criticism, linguistic inquiry, and business communication studies• become familiar with quantitative analysis of corpus

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of
•    Key concepts, terms, and concerns of corpus linguistics;
•    Theories underlying corpus linguistics;
•    Distinctions between corpus linguistics and cognitive linguistics;
•    Types of corpora and their applications in language-based studies;
•    Methods of building corpora and ways of conducting corpus-based research.

Intellectual skills:
•    The ability to view a given discipline in perspective;
•    The competence in examining stretches of discourse in different genres through computer-aided and data-based analysis;
•    The ability to interpret research findings and their implications in a broad context;
•    The capability to theorize the distinctions between different approaches to linguistic studies;
•    The ability to understand relevant published research, locate the strengths as well as drawbacks of students' own work and make plans for improvement.

Professional skills:
•    The ability to analyse and interpret corpus-based work in the domains of linguistic enquiry, literary analysis, English education, and business communication studies;
•    The capability to design, construct and use corpora for data-based or quantitatively oriented research;
•    The competence in evaluating corpus-based studies within a terminological framework of corpus linguistics in a professional setting;
•    The ability to disseminate findings of corpus research via clear and effective presentation.

Transferable skills:
•    The ability to perform date-based linguistic analysis of various texts;
•    The competence in gathering, sorting out and processing data by means of information technology for empirical research;
•    The capability to present findings of computer-aided investigation and engage in discussion of them from two or more perspectives.

Conveners

View in Curriculum Catalogue
Last updated 09/01/2025.