Lesson: Understanding Corpora in ELT/ESP
2.1 Introduction:
Corpora in English Language Teaching (ELT) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP) play a crucial role in understanding language use across various contexts. In this section, we will explore the philosophy and procedures underlying the creation of several prominent corpora worldwide. The lesson will delve into the principles of corpus linguistics as applied in educational settings, drawing parallels between General English and ESP corpora.
2.2 Registers and Genres:
Registers and genres offer distinct perspectives on text varieties. While genres focus on the form and content of texts, registers emphasize linguistic patterns. Registers correspond to the context of the situation, reflecting variations in language use based on circumstances, such as formality or informality. Genres, on the other hand, relate to the context of culture, encompassing recognized and accepted text types. We'll explore these concepts to understand how they contribute to the meaning and function of textual variation.
Exploring Genres:
In English language teaching, a genre is a text type, spoken or written, distinguished by its distinctive form and content, socially and culturally recognized. Taking the example of the Brown Corpus (1964), we will examine how genres like Adventure and Western Fiction, Belles Lettres, and others were organized. Additionally, we'll look at a comprehensive list of genres used by various linguists, ranging from academic essays to political speeches and novels.
2.3 Investigating Lexis in Specific Corpora:
Lexis, encompassing vocabulary and grammar, plays a pivotal role in corpus linguistics. This section explores the interrelation between corpus and lexis, examining the vocabulary, phraseology, and idioms used in various linguistic data. Special attention will be given to Lexicon, Lexicology, and the dynamic relationship between corpus linguistics and lexicology.
2.3.1 Legal English:
Legal English, a formalized variety with its own vocabulary and syntax, is explored as a distinct sublanguage. Linguistic patterns, terminology, and the term "legalese" will be discussed, highlighting its specialized discourse understood by legal professionals but not always by the general public.
2.3.2 COLE (Corpus Of Legal English):
We'll focus on COLE, a relatively smaller corpus compared to general corpora like BNC and COCA. Emphasis will be on the importance of sampling diversity and consistency in legal corpora. Examples such as the British Law Report Corpus, the Corpus of Legal English, and the British Law English Corpus will be examined to understand the content and purpose of legal corpora. The lesson concludes with insights into the extraction process, detailing how texts are chosen based on various criteria from a wide range of legal sources.
- What is the primary focus of Section 2.1 in the context of corpora in ELT/ESP?
a. Describing language varieties
b. Discussing the principles of corpus linguistics
c. Analyzing linguistic patterns in corpora
d. Exploring the history of English language teaching
Section 2.2: Registers and Genres
- How does a register differ from a genre?
a. Register focuses on cultural context, while genre emphasizes linguistic patterns.
b. Register deals with linguistic patterns, while genre concerns form and content of texts.
c. Both register and genre exclusively relate to cultural contexts.
d. Register and genre are synonymous terms.
3. What is the primary function of genres in English Language Teaching, as per the lesson?
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a. Distinguishing linguistic patterns in texts b. Identifying the context of culture in language use c. Categorizing texts based on linguistic variations d. Exploring the history of linguistic patterns
Section 2.3: Investigating Lexis in Specific Corpora
- What does the term "lexis" refer to in linguistics?
a. Vocabulary and grammar of a language
b. Syntax and semantics of a language
c. The origin and evolution of words
d. Phonetic variations in spoken language
5. How is lexicology different from a lexicon?
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a. Lexicology is the study of words, while lexicon refers to a dictionary. b. Lexicon is the study of words, while lexicology refers to a dictionary. c. Lexicology and lexicon are interchangeable terms. d. Lexicon and lexicology both refer to dictionaries in ancient languages.
Section 2.3.1: Legal English
6. How is Legal English described in the context?
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a. A simplified form of English for legal professionals. b. A sublanguage with its own vocabulary, syntax, and semantics. c. An informal variation of English used in legal writings. d. A specialized form of English for general communication.
Section 2.3.2: COLE (Corpus Of Legal English)
7. What is emphasized as crucial in legal corpora like COLE?
a. Size and quantity of data collected. b. Consistency and diversity in the sampled data. c. The linguistic patterns unique to legal English. d. The publication history of legal texts.
8. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a recognized legal corpus?
a. British Law Report Corpus b. Corpus of Legal English (COLE) c. Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) d. British Law English Corpus (BLEC)
9. Where were the text samples for the COLE Corpus extracted from?
a. Random sources across the globe b. Duke Law Journal, spanning specific years c. British Law courts and tribunals d. All legal journals published between 2005 and 2009
Answers
- b. Discussing the principles of corpus linguistics
- b. Register deals with linguistic patterns, while genre concerns the form and content of texts.
- b. Identifying the context of culture in language use
- a. Vocabulary and grammar of a language
- a. Lexicology is the study of words, while lexicon refers to a dictionary.
- b. A sublanguage with its own vocabulary, syntax, and semantics.
- b. Consistency and diversity in the sampled data.
- c. Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA)
- b. Duke Law Journal, spanning specific years
Questions and Asnwers
Question 1: What is the primary focus of Section 2.1 in the context of corpora in ELT/ESP?
Answer: b. Discussing the principles of corpus linguistics
Question 2: How does a register differ from a genre?
Answer: b. Register deals with linguistic patterns, while genre concerns the form and content of texts.
Question 3: What is the primary function of genres in English Language Teaching, as per the lesson?
Answer: b. Identifying the context of culture in language use
Question 4: What does the term "lexis" refer to in linguistics?
Answer: a. Vocabulary and grammar of a language
Question 5: How is lexicology different from a lexicon?
Answer: a. Lexicology is the study of words, while lexicon refers to a dictionary.
Question 6: How is Legal English described in the context?
Answer: b. A sublanguage with its own vocabulary, syntax, and semantics.
Question 7: What is emphasized as crucial in legal corpora like COLE?
Answer: b. Consistency and diversity in the sampled data.
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a recognized legal corpus?
Answer: c. Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA)
Question 9: Where were the text samples for the COLE Corpus extracted from?
Answer: b. Duke Law Journal, spanning specific years
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