Corpus Linguistics

Corpus linguistics is the study of language using large, digitalised collections of naturally occurring spoken and written texts, known as language corpora. Rather than a discipline on a par with morphology, syntax or pragmatics, corpus linguistics is an empirical methodology for exploring language as it is actually used by its speakers. Since its conception in the 1960s, and especially in the 21st century, corpus linguistic methodology has been applied in almost all fields of linguistics, from speech prosody and grammar to semantics, pragmatics and sociolinguistics. Furthermore, the existence of a variety of synchronic and diachronic corpora is an excellent basis for observing language change and variation. Corpus linguistics has numerous practical applications as well, e.g. in translation, forensics, and, crucially for future teachers, in the foreign language classroom.

Services and consultation at LinA-Lab

At LinA-Lab, you can access and receive recommendations for various English-language corpora. We also offer workshops and individual consultations to help you use the corpus analysis software Sketch Engine and AntConc, as well as the statistical data analysis software SPSS.

You can find a current overview of our workshop dates for the 2025/26 winter semester under Workshops (please register via myStudy).

Resources & Links (to be updated)

• Corpora available at LinA-Lab
• Freely accessible online corpora and TV scripts that can be used as corpora
• Software for corpus analysis (AntConc, Sketch Engine)
• Further information & overviews on corpora and corpus linguistics
• Web tools, corpus analysis programmes and manuals
• Software for statistical analysis (SPSS)
• Corpus-based dictionaries, reference grammars and user manuals available for loan at LinA-Lab