Corpus linguistics is often regarded as a methodology in its own right, but little attention has been given to the theoretical perspectives from which the subject can be approached. The present book contributes to filling this gap. Bringing together original contributions by internationally renowned authors, the chapters include coverage of the lexical priming theory, parole-linguistics, a four-part model of language system and language use, and the concept of local textual functions. The theoretical arguments are illustrated and complemented by case studies using data from large corpora such as the BNC, smaller purpose-built corpora, and Google searches. By presenting theoretical positions in corpus linguistics, "Text, Discourse, and Corpora" provides an essential overview for advanced undergraduate, postgraduate and academic readers. "Corpus and Discourse Series" editors are: Wolfgang Teubert, University of Birmingham, and Michaela Mahlberg, Liverpool Hope University College. Editorial Board: Frantisek Cermak (Prague), Susan Conrad (Portland), Geoffrey Leech (Lancaster), Elena Tognini-Bonelli (Lecce and TWC), Ruth Wodak (Lancaster and Vienna), and Feng Zhiwei (Beijing). Corpus linguistics provides the methodology to extract meaning from texts. Taking as its starting point the fact that language is not a mirror of reality but lets us share what we know, believe and think about reality, it focuses on language as a social phenomenon, and makes visible the attitudes and beliefs expressed by the members of a discourse community. Consisting of both spoken and written language, discourse always has historical, social, functional, and regional dimensions. Discourse can be monolingual or multilingual, interconnected by translations. Discourse is where language and social studies meet. "The Corpus and Discourse" series consists of two strands. The first, "Research in Corpus and Discourse", features innovative contributions to various aspects of corpus linguistics and a wide range of applications, from language technology via the teaching of a second language to a history of mentalities. The second strand, "Studies in Corpus and Discourse", is comprised of key texts bridging the gap between social studies and linguistics. Although equally academically rigorous, this strand will be aimed at a wider audience of academics and postgraduate students working in both disciplines.

This text offers an introduction to words and corpus linguistics. From this foundation it explores the much wider issues that are inevitably raised but somehow marginalized in lexicology (the study of words) and corpus linguistics: how are individual words integrated into language? What are the real benefits of studying the large quantities of text now available in corpora? How do we best conceptualise meaning itself?;The book begins with a survey of lexicology by Halliday. He reviews basic issues in defining and understanding the word as a unit of language, but also includes brief accounts of lexicology in India, China and the Islamic world. Halliday introduces the notion of "corpus" and opens the way for a rethinking of the nature of words and language. The central section of the book, by Teubert and Yallop, expands a number of traditional issues in the study of words and their meanings, from common misconceptions about the "real meaning" of words to the relationship between language and reality and the problems raised by comparing different languages. This section both problematizes the issues and develops a functional and social perspective on meaning.; In the third and final se

This readable introductory textbook presents a concise survey of corpus linguistics. The first section of the book introduces the key concepts in corpus linguistics and provides a brief history of the discipline. The second section expands the study of language and shows how corpus linguistics can advance our study of words and meaning, the benefits of studying the corpora, and how meaning can best be conceptualised. Explaining corpus linguistics in easy to understand terms, and including a glossary and suggestions for further reading, this book will be useful to students trying to get a grasp on this subject.

Meaning, Discourse and Society investigates the construction of reality within discourse. When people talk about things such as language, the mind, globalisation or weeds, they are less discussing the outside world than objects they have created collaboratively by talking about them. Wolfgang Teubert shows that meaning cannot be found in mental concepts or neural activity, as implied by the cognitive sciences. He argues instead that meaning is negotiated and knowledge is created by symbolic interaction, thus taking language as a social, rather than a mental, phenomenon. Discourses, Teubert contends, can be viewed as collective minds, enabling the members of discourse communities to make sense of themselves and of the world around them. By taking an active stance in constructing the reality they share, people thus can take part in moulding the world in accordance with their perceived needs.

Meaning, Discourse and Society investigates the construction of reality within discourse. When people talk about things such as language, the mind, globalisation or weeds, they are less discussing the outside world than objects they have created collaboratively by talking about them. Wolfgang Teubert shows that meaning cannot be found in mental concepts or neural activity, as implied by the cognitive sciences. He argues instead that meaning is negotiated and knowledge is created by symbolic interaction, thus taking language as a social, rather than a mental, phenomenon. Discourses, Teubert contends, can be viewed as collective minds, enabling the members of discourse communities to make sense of themselves and of the world around them. By taking an active stance in constructing the reality they share, people thus can take part in moulding the world in accordance with their perceived needs.

Spatestens seit dem Erscheinen von Dietrich Busses und Wolfgang Teuberts Aufsatz "Ist Diskurs ein sprachwissenschaftliches Objekt?" (1994) hat die "Linguistische Diskursanalyse" (manchmal mit dem Zusatz versehen nach Foucault ) ein vielfaltiges Echo in und ausserhalb der Sprachwissenschaft gefunden. Insbesondere Sozialwissenschaftler sind mit dieser Forschungsrichtung in einen interdisziplinaren Dialog eingetreten, der in den verschiedensten Foren und Forschungsverbunden bis heute anhalt. Diesem Dialog soll im vorliegenden Band ebenso nachgegangen werden wie den Veranderungen in der Perspektive auf eine sprachwissenschaftlich fundierte Diskursanalyse, die sich durch teilweise auseinanderstrebende jungere Auffassungen der beiden Herausgeber ergeben haben."

Corpus linguistics is often regarded as a methodology in its own right, but little attention has been given to the theoretical perspectives from which the subject can be approached. The present book contributes to filling this gap. Bringing together original contributions by internationally renowned authors, the chapters include coverage of the lexical priming theory, parole-linguistics, a four-part model of language system and language use, and the concept of local textual functions. The theoretical arguments are illustrated and complemented by case studies using data from large corpora such as the BNC, smaller purpose-built corpora, and Google searches. By presenting theoretical positions in corpus linguistics, "Text, Discourse, and Corpora" provides an essential overview for advanced undergraduate, postgraduate and academic readers. "Corpus and Discourse Series" editors are: Wolfgang Teubert, University of Birmingham, and Michaela Mahlberg, Liverpool Hope University College. Editorial Board: Frantisek Cermak (Prague), Susan Conrad (Portland), Geoffrey Leech (Lancaster), Elena Tognini-Bonelli (Lecce and TWC), Ruth Wodak (Lancaster and Vienna), and Feng Zhiwei (Beijing). Corpus linguistics provides the methodology to extract meaning from texts. Taking as its starting point the fact that language is not a mirror of reality but lets us share what we know, believe and think about reality, it focuses on language as a social phenomenon, and makes visible the attitudes and beliefs expressed by the members of a discourse community. Consisting of both spoken and written language, discourse always has historical, social, functional, and regional dimensions. Discourse can be monolingual or multilingual, interconnected by translations. Discourse is where language and social studies meet. "The Corpus and Discourse" series consists of two strands. The first, "Research in Corpus and Discourse", features innovative contributions to various aspects of corpus linguistics and a wide range of applications, from language technology via the teaching of a second language to a history of mentalities. The second strand, "Studies in Corpus and Discourse", is comprised of key texts bridging the gap between social studies and linguistics. Although equally academically rigorous, this strand will be aimed at a wider audience of academics and postgraduate students working in both disciplines.

This readable introductory textbook presents a concise survey of corpus linguistics. The first section of the book introduces the key concepts in corpus linguistics and provides a brief history of the discipline. The second section expands the study of language and shows how corpus linguistics can advance our study of words and meaning, the benefits of studying the corpora, and how meaning can best be conceptualised. Explaining corpus linguistics in easy to understand terms, and including a glossary and suggestions for further reading, this book will be useful to students trying to get a grasp on this subject.