See and download particular months from the Sketch Engine calendar 2018. These are useful CQL examples representing a wide range of tasks.
Category: corpus linguistics
Currently, number 1 on my wish (dream) list: free app turns conversations into searchable text
Source Mashable UK: https://mashable.com/2018/03/01/otter-transcription-app/?utm_cid=mash-com-Tw-main-link#NnOvPeD5bSqB
From Mashable:
Anyone who’s ever transcribed an audio interview into text knows what a painfully slow process that is. But with the new Otter app, created by a company called AI Sense, this could become a thing of the past, even when transcribing a complex conversation with several people speaking.
Corpus linguistics & vocabulary learning
Recently, one of my students asked for some pointers in corpus linguistics and vocabulary learning. Here´s my top 5 impromptu list.
Sinclair, J. (2003). Reading concordances. An introduction. Harlow: Longman.
This is a great resource to fully understand the implications of using concordances to derive (linguistic) meaning.
Leńko-Szymańska, A. (2015). The English Vocabulary Profile as a benchmark for assigning levels to learner corpus data. Learner corpora in language testing and assessment, 115-140.
Interesting research that discusses the use of Cambridge Vocabulary Profile to sort ICCI learners into levels.
Schmitt, N., Cobb, T., Horst, M., & Schmitt, D. (2017). How much vocabulary is needed to use English? Replication of Van Zeeland & Schmitt (2012), Nation, (2006), and Cobb (2007). Language Teaching, 50(2), 212–226.
Excellent paper that makes use of corpus linguistics research methods to assess how much vocabulary do learners need to use English.
Schmitt, N. (2014). Size and depth of vocabulary knowledge: What the research shows. Language Learning, 64, 4, 913–951.
Great paper that discusses the many sides of vocabulary knowledge. Great if you need a start for vocabulary research in language education.
Jones, M. & Durran, P. (2010) What can a corpus tell us about vocabulary teaching materials? The Routledge handbook of corpus linguistics.
Hopefully, this chapter will help you bridge the gap between corpora as resources and language teaching. Very practical stuff. By the way, the whole Routledge Handbook of corpus linguistics is a superb resource.
Free copy of our latest paper in Computer Assisted Language Learning
Our article, Language teachers’ perceptions on the use of OER language processing technologies in MALL, has just been published on Computer Assisted Language Learning Journal, Taylor & Francis Online.
50 free eprints can be downloaded from the following URL:
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/epWFWhVAGFZ4yRSIaMcA/full
Get yours now!!!!
Abstract
Combined with the ubiquity and constant connectivity of mobile devices, and with innovative approaches such as Data-Driven Learning (DDL), Natural Language Processing Technologies (NLPTs) as Open Educational Resources (OERs) could become a powerful tool for language learning as they promote individual and personalized learning. Using a questionnaire that was answered by language teachers (n = 230) in Spain and the UK, this research explores the extent to which OER NLPTs are currently known and used in adult foreign language learning. Our results suggest that teachers’ familiarity and use of OER NLPTs are very low. Although online dictionaries, collocation dictionaries and spell checkers are widely known, NLPTs appear to be generally underused in foreign language teaching. It was found that teachers prefer computer-based environments over mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and that teachers’ qualification determines their familiarity with a wider range of OER NLPTs. This research offers insight into future applications of Language Processing Technologies as OERs in language learning.
KEYWORDS: Language learning, teachers’ perceptions, OER, MALL, natural language processing technologies, higher education
CFP Corpus Research in Challenging Contexts Annual IVACS One-Day Symposium 24 Feb 2018
Call for papers Annual IVACS One-Day Symposium
Theme: Corpus Research in Challenging Contexts
24th February 2018
Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching and Testing, School of Celtic Studies, Maynooth University
The Annual IVACS One-Day Symposium will be hosted by the Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching and Testing, School of Celtic Studies, Maynooth University, on Saturday, 24th February 2018. This year’s main theme is Corpus research in challenging contexts, including:
- Corpora in minority language or bilingual contexts
- Learner corpus research
- Native vs. non-native speaker issues in corpus research
- Spoken and written corpora design and analysis
Abstracts: The deadline for 300-word abstracts is Friday, 15th January 2018.
Abstracts should be sent by email, as MS word documents, to aoife.nighloinn@mu.ie
Registration for this event is free.
For more information about the IVACS research network, see http://www.ivacs.mic.ul.ie/.
Please circulate this to any colleagues or postgraduates who might be interested.
Travel
Maynooth University is located just 25 kilometres from the centre of Dublin city. Our campus is closely integrated with the historic and lively town of Maynooth, Co. Kildare, which is easily accessible by car, bus, and train. For driving directions and information on public transport options, see https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/location.
Or find us on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/K4tVUWFHFhm
The nearest airport is Dublin airport, 33km north east of Maynooth. There is an hourly shuttle bus between Dublin airport and Maynooth. Tickets can be purchase online athttps://airporthopper.ie/maynooth-timetable/.
Accommodation:
There is a range of guest rooms (ranging from €28 – €92 per person per night) available on the historic South Campus of the university, a 5-minute walk from the symposium venue on the North Campus. See https://www.maynoothcampus.com/rooms/ for details.
The Glenroyal Hotel: Located in the centre of the village, very close to the train station and bus stops and a 15-minute walk to the North Campus. See https://www.glenroyal.ie.
#CFP 9th Inter-Varietal Applied Corpus Studies (IVACS) Conference 2018, Malta
The 9th Inter-Varietal Applied Corpus Studies (IVACS) International Biennial Conference 2018
http://www.ivacs.mic.ul.ie/376/
University of Malta, Valletta, 13th – 15th June 2018
Corpus Linguistics: languages, communities, mobility
The IVACS network aims to connect corpus researchers and postgraduates internationally. The 9th biennial conference builds on the success of the previous eight IVACS conferences held at the Universities of Limerick (2002, 2008), Belfast, (2004), Nottingham (2006), Edinburgh (2010), Leeds (2012), Newcastle (2014), and Bath Spa (2016).
The theme of the 9th international conference is Corpus Linguistics: languages, communities, mobility and it is intended to reflect a deeper awareness of the central role played by languages, and language varieties, in our increasingly fluid societies. Through the use of corpus linguistics, the conference will draw on the diverse fields of study that can contribute to understanding the issues and concerns, as well as advantages and richness, that are found as communities experience increasing mobility. We are particularly interested in papers which draw on applied corpus research in the following areas, though these are in no way exclusive:
Corpus Linguistics, mobility and communities
CL and social mobility;
CL, language and migration;
CL and integration;
Using CL to explore language in minority contexts;
CL and diversity in communities;
CL and high-stakes testing;
CL and xenophobia.
Corpus Linguistics and Analysing Discourse
CL and real word contexts, e.g. Media Discourse, Classroom Discourse; Workplace Discourse, Academic Discourse;
CL and approaches to discourse analysis, e.g. Conversation Analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis;
Corpus Pragmatics.
Corpus Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Learner corpus research;
Data-driven learning;
CL and teacher education;
CL and English as an International Language (EIL)
CL and English as a Lingua Franca (ELF);
CL and Second Language Acquisition;
CL and Bilingualism.
Corpus methods and innovations
Critical reflections on corpus methods;
Innovations in Corpus design;
Innovative corpus tools;
Advances in quantitative and qualitative approaches to analysing corpora.
Corpus Linguistics, Texts and Literature
Lexicography;
Corpus Stylistics;
CL and Translation Studies;
CL and Literary Linguistics;
Forensic Linguistics;
Register Studies.
Corpus Linguistics and Speech
CL Speech Technology;
CL and Multimodality;
Spoken Corpora;
Corpus Phonology.
Corpus Linguistics and Sociolinguistics
CL and language change;
CL and language varieties;
CL and language variation;
CL and minority language studies.
Corpus Linguistics and Historic Linguistics
Building historic corpora;
Analysing historic corpora;
Historic pragmatics.
Papers focusing on languages other than English, as well as language varieties and dialects are most welcome.
Submission of Abstracts
Full papers will involve a 20-minute presentation, plus 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
Deadline for receipt of abstracts: 19th December, 2017
Outcome of CfP: 31st January, 2018
Abstract specifications for full papers:
250 – 350 words in length (including references, if any)
Written in Times New Roman font and saved as a docs file
Page 1 will include: Title; Presenter(s); Affiliation(s); Email address(es), plus abstract
Page 2 will be anonymised and will include: Title and abstract only.
Submit abstract to: IVACS2018@um.edu.mt