Quantitative Methods In Linguistics

Quantitative Methods in Linguistics offers a practical introduction to statistics and quantitative analysis with data sets drawn from the field and coverage of phonetics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and syntax, as well as probability distribution and quantitative methods.

Provides balanced treatment of the practical aspects of handling quantitative linguistic data
Includes sample datasets contributed by researchers working in a variety of sub-disciplines of linguistics
Uses R, the statistical software package most commonly used by linguists, to discover patterns in quantitative data and to test linguistic hypotheses
Includes student-friendly end-of-chapter assignments and is accompanied by online resources at www.blackwellpublishing.com/quantmethods

Review
"As research in the language sciences becomes more interdisciplinary, students must become proficient in a wider range of data analysis methods. Johnson’s text is a comprehensive and detailed introduction to some of the most widely used statistical methods in language research. The book teaches by example, walking the reader through the analysis of data sets using the software package R, which provides concrete understanding of how to apply the methods, not just understand them conceptually. This is a good practical text, one that can serve as a handbook, and is appropriate for graduate students and advanced undergraduates who are doing research in the broad field of language." Mark A Pitt, Ohio State University

"Johnson's book is a catalyst for change in linguistics. Increasingly, the subjective, impressionistic data collection method is being replaced by objective, quantitative measurements. This book serves an important function in this process leading students step-by-step toward using statistical methods to analyze complex data." Chilin Shih, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"This rich and rewarding textbook is a must-read for all students and researchers who wish to follow the new wave of sophisticated empirical models and methods now sweeping the field of linguistics from phonetics to syntax and semantics." Joan Bresnan, Stanford University