In this bittersweet conclusion to CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love takes on a new role as the interviewee, with long-time producer Sam Cook stepping into the host’s chair. Reflecting on three years and 36 episodes of conversations about corpus linguistics and its societal applications, this episode looks into the origins of the podcast, its evolution and memorable moments with guests from around the world. Robbie and Sam revisit the challenges and triumphs of producing CorpusCast, from coordinating interviews across multiple time zones to navigating the growth of AI and its impact on linguistics. Along the way, they share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including wardrobe commentary, logistical nightmares and unexpected gems of candidness from past episodes. Robbie offers heartfelt thanks to the listeners and guests who have supported the show and provides his advice for aspiring corpus linguists. The episode ends with a reflection on the podcast’s legacy as a living record of corpus linguistics and a hint that this may not be a final farewell, but a “hiatus.” Whether you’ve been a long-time listener or are new to CorpusCast, this finale offers an engaging, humorous and reflective look at the podcast's journey. Thank you for listening - and stay tuned for whatever comes next...

In this episode of CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love dives into the transformative potential of statistics in corpus linguistics, featuring special guest Professor Stefan Th. Gries from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Known for his advocacy of rigorous statistical methods, Professor Gries challenges conventional approaches, pushing for statistical sophistication in understanding language. Throughout the conversation, Professor Gries shares how statistical modeling is changing the field by providing tools to quantify language patterns, moving beyond basic calculations to multifactorial models that address the complexity of linguistic data. With these advanced methods, researchers are better equipped to manage variability, enhancing the reliability and generalisability of corpus-based findings. The discussion also explores the shift toward mixed-effects modelling, which considers individual differences in language use, adding nuance to linguistic studies. Dr. Love and Professor Gries discuss the challenges students and researchers face in learning and applying these methods, as well as practical approaches to make complex statistics accessible to linguistics students and seasoned researchers alike. Whether you're new to corpus linguistics or a seasoned professional, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving role of statistics in the field. Don’t miss this enlightening discussion on the power of data in revealing hidden patterns in language.

In this episode of CorpusCast, host Dr Robbie Love is joined by Dr Guyanne Wilson, Quirk Lecturer in English Linguistics at University College London, to explore the fascinating role of corpus linguistics in studying World Englishes.

With experience in compiling corpora from Trinidad and Tobago to Uganda, Dr Wilson unpacks the development of these English varieties and the social, linguistic, and historical contexts in which they thrive.

From her academic journey, starting in Trinidad and Tobago, to her current position at UCL as the Quirk Lecturer in English Linguistics, Dr Wilson shares insights into the importance of documenting diverse Englishes, emphasising the value of corpus linguistics in social justice.

The episode looks into the challenges of building corpora, working with historical language data and the evolving norms in English usage around the world. Join us for a discussion into the intersection of linguistics, history and global diversity.

In this episode of CorpusCast, host Dr Robbie Love welcomes Professor Shelley Staples from the University of Arizona to dive deep into the fascinating world of learner corpora and how they can revolutionise the way we approach academic writing, especially for students writing in English as a second language. Professor Staples shares her journey into corpus linguistics and her innovative use of learner corpora to support students in developing their academic literacy. They discuss her major projects, including the Corpus and Repository of Writing (Crow), which houses a vast collection of student writing samples used to explore linguistic patterns, genre conventions, and the nuances of academic discourse. Shelley explains how this data-driven approach not only helps in identifying effective writing strategies but also empowers students by showing the value of their contributions to the academic community. The conversation also touches on the challenges and ethical considerations of using learner data, the potential impacts of AI on student writing, and the importance of an asset-oriented approach to language learning. Whether you're an educator, linguist, or just curious about the intersection of language and technology, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving field of corpus linguistics and its practical applications in education. Tune in to learn how corpus-based research can enhance both teaching and learning, making academic writing more accessible and effective for students across the globe. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Shelley Staples 👉 https://t.ly/eJ-b2 Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

In this episode of CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love is joined by Professor Vaclav Brezina from Lancaster University to discuss #LancsBox, a corpus tool developed to assist researchers in visualizing and analysing linguistic data. Professor Brezina explains the development and purpose of #LancsBox, addressing the gaps it fills in existing tools. Learn about the features of #LancsBox, including the wizard tool that simplifies data analysis and its capability to handle large datasets. The discussion also covers its applications in various research projects, from analysing spoken language to studying multi-word expressions. Dr Love and Professor Brezina explore the broader landscape of corpus linguistics tools, the role of user feedback in tool development and the future of corpus research in the context of AI and big data. This episode provides insights into the current advancements in corpus linguistics and the ways tools like #LancsBox contribute to language research. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Vaclav Brezina 👉 https://t.ly/Q--Bx Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

Welcome to another episode of CorpusCast, the podcast from Aston University dedicated to exploring corpus linguistics and its impact on society. Hosted by Dr Robbie Love, this episode takes a look at the sentimental world of nostalgia and its significant role in public discourse. In this episode, Robbie is joined by two guests, Professor Charlotte Taylor from the University of Sussex and Senior Assistant Professor Dr Anna Marchi from the University of Bologna. Both experts have extensive experience in discourse analysis and corpus linguistics, particularly in the areas of political and media discourse. Together, they will guide listeners on a nostalgic journey, exploring how the language of the past is used persuasively in various contexts. From media narratives to political rhetoric, the discussion will uncover how nostalgia can be a powerful tool in shaping public opinion and storytelling. Join us as we uncover the warmth and complexity of nostalgic language and its broader implications for society. Whether you're a seasoned linguist or just curious about the power of words, this episode promises to provide valuable insights into the intersection of language, emotion and society. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Charlotte Taylor 👉 https://t.ly/nyRkd Dr Anna Marchi 👉 https://t.ly/TmFja Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

In this episode, Robbie chats to Professor Dan McIntyre, from Uppsala University, about the world of corpus stylistics. Professor McIntyre shares his journey from an early fascination with language to becoming a leading figure in stylistics, corpus linguistics and the history of the English language. He discusses the evolution of corpus stylistics, a method combining corpus linguistic techniques with stylistic analysis to study both literary and non-literary texts. The conversation covers essential concepts like keyness and foregrounding, the challenges of studying contemporary literary texts due to copyright issues, and the importance of understanding corpus as a representative sample of language data. They also explore the broader context of higher education and the threats facing humanities disciplines, emphasising the need for public engagement and outreach. Professor McIntyre offers valuable advice for students embarking on corpus linguistics research and discusses the impact of Babel, the languages and linguistics magazine he co-founded. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that highlights the intersection of linguistics, literature, and the digital age. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Dan McIntyre 👉 https://t.ly/6Wjc2 Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston Don't forget to share your thoughts using the hashtag #CorpusCast and follow the Aston Corpus Linguistics Research Group on X at @AstonCorpus.

Welcome back to CorpusCast, the podcast from Aston University delving into corpus linguistics and its impact on society. I'm your host, Dr Robbie Love, and in today's episode, we're diving deep into a crucial aspect of corpus linguistics: representativeness. To truly make sense of corpus research, we must ensure that our corpora accurately represent the language we're studying. But how do we distinguish a well-designed corpus from a poorly designed one? What considerations should researchers keep in mind when creating or utilising existing corpora? Joining me today is our esteemed guest, Dr Bethany Gray, a professor of applied linguistics and technology at Iowa State University. With her extensive background in corpus linguistics, text analysis and academic writing development, Bethany is the perfect guide to explore this intricate topic. Bethany's expertise shines through in her book, "Designing and Evaluating Language Corpora," co-authored with Jesse Egbert and Doug Biber, published in 2022. We'll delve into the nuances of representativeness and its impact on corpus design, drawing from Bethany's wealth of experience and insights. So, let's unravel the complexities of representativeness in corpus linguistics with our guest today, Bethany Gray. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Bethany Gray 👉 https://tinyurl.com/bdzkf4cz Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston