Corpus-based versus corpus-driven linguistics
The distinction between corpus-based and corpus-driven language study was introduced by Tognini-Bonelli (2001). Corpus-based studies typically use corpus data in order to explore a theory or hypothesis, aiming to validate it, refute it or refine it. The definition of corpus linguistics as a method underpins this approach.
Corpus-driven linguistics rejects the characterisation of corpus linguistics as a method and claims instead that the corpus itself should be the sole source of our hypotheses about language. It is thus claimed that the corpus itself embodies a theory of language (Tognini-Bonelli 2001: 84-5).
This page was last modified on Thursday 26 May 2011 at 3:49 am.