Principles and applications of Corpus Linguistics

Professor Emeritus of English Linguistics at Lancaster University (United Kingdom), Geoffrey Leech raises several points about Corpus Linguistics per se in a thought-provoking way. As far as the historical perspective is concerned, he indicates whom he considers the founding fathers of this field and justifies his choices. When writing about representativeness, he argues that the suffix ‘-ity’ is better suited for this term (‘representativity’) when compared to ‘-ness’. This is because the former would allow for a continuum in which corpora could be classified as more (or less) representative of a (specific use of a) language. A corpus linguist at heart, Leech sees no drawbacks in this approach, but rather credits any shortcomings to the way it is put into practice. In terms of applications, Leech discusses his research experience in approaching both pragmatics and style by means of corpora.