Corpus Linguistics: An Introduction

Corpus Linguistics: An Introduction offers guidelines for the creation and usage of corpora in the form of empirical language databases with direct functional and theoretical interpretation of a natural language. Divided into seven chapters, it begins with the definition and evolution of the concept of a corpus in linguistics, its salient features, and its utility in advanced works of linguistics and language technology. Subsequently, it discusses the typological classification of the existing corpora for various languages today; generation of spoken and written corpora, particularly for the Indian languages; theoretical and application issues related to this field; and a compilation of corpora for future application. Drawn on original research and written in accessible language and style, this book will create avenues for further advancements in mainstream and applied linguistics and language technology. Neither overtly technical nor pedagogic, Dash delves into the theoretical and methodological issues of a new approach, which will appeal to a wide spectrum of scholars, researchers, and particularly to students of linguistics.