LIN 307 — New and Created Languages: Lecture Note

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LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course code: LIN 307 Course title: New and Created Languages Course credit load: 2 Units Series 1: Foundations of Digital and Corpus Linguistics Series 2: Perspectives and Approaches in Corpus-Based Research Series 3: Levels of Linguistic Analysis in Corpus Studies Series 4: Applications of Corpus Linguistics in Language and Education Series 5: Tools, Techniques, and Skills for Corpus Analysis Proposed Outline for Series 1 Part 1: Introduction to Digital Linguistics • Sub-Part 1.1: Definition and scope of digital linguistics • Sub-Part 1.2: Key digital tools and resources in linguistics • Sub-Part 1.3: Role of digitisation and databases in language study Part 2: Foundations of Corpus Linguistics • Sub-Part 2.1: Definition and scope of corpus linguistics • Sub-Part 2.2: Historical development and significance of corpora • Sub-Part 2.3: Types of corpora (monolingual, multilingual, specialised, general) Part 3: Linking Digital and Corpus Linguistics • Sub-Part 3.1: Similarities and differences between digital and corpus linguistics • Sub-Part 3.2: Integration of digital tools in corpus-based research • Sub-Part 3.3: Examples of applications in linguistics on the web Part 4: Basic Techniques in Digital and Corpus Linguistics • Sub-Part 4.1: Searching and annotation in corpora • Sub-Part 4.2: Data mining and data visualisation • Sub-Part 4.3: Introduction to software packages for corpus analysis Introduction Language today is studied not only through traditional observation but also through digital tools and large collections of texts known as corpora. With the rapid growth of technology and the internet, linguists now have access to vast amounts of language data that can be stored, searched,

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS and analysed in ways that were once unimaginable. This Series sets the foundation for understanding how digital methods and corpus-based approaches have transformed the study of language, making it more precise, systematic, and applicable to real-world contexts such as education, dictionary creation, and language teaching. The aim of this Series is to introduce you to the fundamental concepts of digital linguistics and corpus linguistics, and to equip you with the essential knowledge needed to appreciate their scope, connections, and practical applications. We shall commence this Series by examining the definition and scope of digital linguistics, including the role of digitisation and databases. Next, we will explore the foundations of corpus linguistics, looking at its historical development and the different types of corpora. Following that, we will consider how digital and corpus linguistics intersect, highlighting their similarities, differences, and integration in research. Finally, we will wrap up by introducing basic techniques such as searching, annotation, data mining, and visualisation, alongside the use of software packages that support corpus analysis. This progression will ensure that you gain a clear and structured understanding of the foundations upon which later Series will build. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to: • SLO 1.1 define the scope and key features of digital linguistics, • SLO 1.2 explain the role of digitisation and databases in language study, • SLO 1.3 define the scope and significance of corpus linguistics, • SLO 1.4 describe the historical development and types of corpora, • SLO 1.5 analyse the similarities and differences between digital and corpus linguistics, • SLO 1.6 demonstrate how digital tools can be integrated into corpus-based research, and • SLO 1.7 apply basic techniques such as searching, annotation, data mining, and visualisation using corpus tools. 1.1 Introduction to Digital Linguistics 1.1.1 Definition and scope of digital linguistics Digital linguistics refers to the study of language using digital tools, resources, and methods. It involves the application of computational techniques to collect, store, search, and analyse linguistic data. This field has grown rapidly with the expansion of the internet and the availability of large-scale digital texts. Learners should note that digital linguistics is not limited to computers alone, but also includes mobile applications, online platforms, and databases that support language research. Digital linguistics is important because it allows linguists to handle vast amounts of data efficiently. For example, instead of manually counting word frequencies in a text, a digital tool

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS can process millions of words in seconds. This efficiency makes it possible to explore patterns that would otherwise remain hidden. Fill in the blank: Digital linguistics involves the study of language using __________ tools, resources, and methods. Figure 1.1 Relationship between linguistics and digital tools 1.1.2 Key digital tools and resources in linguistics Digital tools are software applications or platforms that assist in processing and analysing language data. Examples include concordancers, text analysis software, and annotation tools. Resources refer to collections of language data, such as online corpora, dictionaries, and databases. Together, these tools and resources provide the foundation for digital linguistics. Learners should be aware that tools vary in complexity. Some are designed for beginners, offering simple search functions, while others are advanced, allowing statistical analysis and visualisation. Resources also differ in scope, ranging from small specialised corpora to massive multilingual databases. Fill in the blank: A concordancer is a type of digital tool that helps linguists to __________ words in context. Tool Type Examples Key Functions Best Used For Concordancers AntConc, Sketch Engine Searches for KWIC (Key Word In Context), frequency, and collocations. Finding how specific words "behave" in large datasets. Annotation Tools ELAN, SayMore Multimodal alignment of audio/video with text transcriptions. Documentation of sign languages or spoken fieldwork. Text Analysis WordSmith Tools, Voyant Advanced keyword analysis and statistical "keyness" testing. Comparing the "aboutness" of two different sets of texts. Online Corpora BNC, COCA Pre-built databases of billions of words from various genres. Studying standard language usage (e.g., British vs. American English). Phonetic Analysis Praat Visualization of speech (spectrograms, pitch, formants). Scientific study of accents, tones, and speech patterns.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Box 1.1 Examples of common digital tools in linguistics 1.1.3 Role of digitisation and databases in language study Digitisation is the process of converting language materials, such as books, manuscripts, or recordings, into digital formats. This makes them easier to store, search, and share. Databases are organised collections of digital information that allow efficient retrieval and management of data. In linguistics, databases often contain texts, audio recordings, or annotations that can be accessed for research. Digitisation has revolutionised language study by preserving endangered languages, making rare texts accessible, and enabling large-scale analysis. Databases, on the other hand, provide structured access to this information, ensuring that researchers can locate specific data quickly. Fill in the blank: Digitisation refers to the process of converting language materials into __________ formats. Plate 1.1 Digitisation of language materials Pilot questions 1.1 1. Which term refers to the study of language using computational techniques and digital tools? 2. What is the main function of a concordancer in digital linguistics? 3. What process involves converting physical language materials into digital formats? 4. Give one example of a digital resource used in linguistics. 5. Why are databases important in digital linguistics research? 1.2 Foundations of Corpus Linguistics 1.2.1 Definition and scope of corpus linguistics Corpus linguistics is the study of language based on large collections of texts, known as corpora. A corpus is a structured set of texts, either written or spoken, that is stored in digital form for systematic analysis. Corpus linguistics focuses on identifying patterns, frequencies, and structures in language use, providing evidence-based insights into how language functions in real contexts. Corpus linguistics is significant because it moves beyond intuition and anecdotal examples, offering empirical data that can be tested and replicated. For instance, instead of guessing how often a word appears in everyday English, a corpus can provide exact figures. Fill in the blank: A corpus is a structured set of texts stored in __________ form for systematic analysis. Figure 1.2 Corpus as a foundation for linguistic study

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.2.2 Historical development and significance of corpora The use of corpora in linguistics dates back to early projects such as the Brown Corpus in the 1960s, which provided a systematic sample of American English. Since then, corpus linguistics has expanded to include massive collections like the British National Corpus and multilingual corpora that cover diverse languages. The significance of corpora lies in their ability to capture authentic language use. They provide evidence for dictionary creation, grammar development, and language teaching. Corpora also allow researchers to track changes in language over time, making them essential for diachronic studies. Fill in the blank: The Brown Corpus, developed in the 1960s, was one of the earliest systematic samples of __________ English. Era Milestone Significant Project Contribution Pre-1950s The Manual Era Oxford English Dictionary Scholars used "slips of paper" (manual citations) to track word meanings. 1960s The Electronic Dawn Brown Corpus The first machine-readable corpus (1 million words). Stored on 100,000 punch cards. 1980s The Lexicographical Revolution COBUILD

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