In this workshop we will identify and explore patterns of language variation in large databases of texts. The session will build on previous sessions on text analysis and assume that the text has been cleaned, tagged, and prepared for the linguistic analysis of content.

The techniques used in the workshop will be both more traditional corpus techniques of collocation or regular expression as well as more concept-oriented techniques involving analysis of synonymy, metaphor, and concept change and distribution. The corpus interface used in this session is Sketchengine which is available on-line. There also will be a demonstration of a prototype of the concept processor that is being built as a part of the Linguistics DNA project (co-developed at Sussex, School of English).

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to identify the most fruitful linguistic patterns to suit specific research questions and be able to interpret the findings in the context of the stances and social meanings the texts communicate.