[Corpora-List] corpus linguistics

[Charles Meyer]

How are people defining corpus linguistics? For me, corpus linguistics has
two general strands: linguists who want to base descriptions of language on
real data for purposes of analysis, theory construction, teaching, etc.; and
NLP people with more computationally-based interests. If people have a
broader conception of corpus linguistics, I'd be interested in hearing what
they have to say.

Frankly, I see no relevancy of generative grammar to corpus linguistics. I
heard Chomsky speak a couple of years ago and comment that people who
analyze corpora were engaging in the equivalent of pre-Galilean physics. He
also stated that real data was so noisy that it should basically be ignored.
How does an individual who does corpus-based research meaningfully engage
with someone who holds these views? Granted, other generativists have
different views, but in general, data collection has played at best a
marginal role in generative grammar. I would argue that there are other
theories more relevant to the interests of corpus linguists ( e.g.
functional grammar or cognitive grammar). Of course, relevancy is in the
eyes of the beholder, and I suspect many who read this post will vigorously
disagree with me. But I thought the discussion of generative grammar reached
the point of diminishing returns long before it ended.

Finally, is it healthy for a list to have a small number of people
exchanging emails on a topic for quite a lengthy period of time? I did not
interpret Antoinette Renouf's message as an attempt to stifle discussion,
but as a request to follow netiquette.

Charles Meyer, Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Boston

On 9/14/07, jeremy ellman <jeremyellman at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Antoinette,
>
> For me, the range of discussions indicates the vibrancy of the community
> and
> its huge range of interests. I do however read this on gmail which neatly
> puts all messages on a topic as one conversation to be read (or not) at
> leisure. This also avoids cluttering my main mail box or being distracted
> as
> new items come in.
>
> Jeremy
>
> On 9/14/07, Antoinette Renouf < Antoinette.Renouf at uce.ac.uk > wrote:
> >
> > Dear List members,
> > Corpora-list was set up by ICAME (International Computer Archive of
> > Modern and Mediaeval English) to impart information and discuss matters
> > of relevance to the field. We have been receiving complaints that
> > Corpora-list has recently been dominated by 3 or 4 people talking about
> > topics having little to do with corpus linguistics. Far be it from me to
> > spoil the fun or stifle debate, but we are all anyway swamped with
> > information beyond our capacity to process, so please do restrict your
> > comments to issues of more central relevance to the particular list
> > community, and/or consider whether private emails might be a more
> > appropriate mechanism for continuing debate once you have found a
> > conversation partner.
> > All good wishes
> > Antoinette Renouf
> > Chair of ICAME
> >
> > --------------------------
> > Antoinette Renouf
> > Professor of English Language and Linguistics
> > School of English
> > University of Central England in Birmingham
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Corpora mailing list
> > Corpora at uib.no
> > http://mailman.uib.no/listinfo/corpora
> >
>
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