An individual subjectivist critique of the use of corpus linguistics to inform pedagogical materials.

Richards, Kendall; Pilcher, Nick

Abstract

Corpus Linguistics, or the gathering together of language into a body for analysis and development of materials, claims itself an assured, established method (or field) that valuably informs pedagogical materials and knowledge of language. The fundamental validity of Corpus Linguistics is rarely, if ever, critiqued. In this empirical paper we critically consider the foundations of Corpus Linguistics as being based on an abstract objectivist view of language. We critique this foundation through the lens of an individual subjectivist view of language. Our introduction outlines abstract objectivist and individual subjectivist views of language. We then present what Corpus Linguistics claims to do, and consider what critiques of it there have been to date. We then critique the foundations of Corpus Linguistics from an individual subjectivist view of language. We illustrate this critique by drawing on data from interviews and focus groups with content material lecturers and students in the subject areas of ‘Business’; ‘Nursing’; ‘Design’ and ‘Computing’. These data question the fundamental assumption that Corpus Linguistics’ operates on: that what is counted is indeed countable. They show how ostensibly similar words are understood in very different ways with very different underpinning psychological elements. We argue that Corpus Linguistics thus informs pedagogical materials with a merely passive understanding of the language. This view can only gain access to the inert crust of previous language, because it removes language from its individual subjective context. This context is fundamental to giving language the conscious and psychological elements that underpin its use. We argue the language should be taught through dialogue in this subject context and not removed from it.

Citation

Richards, K., & Pilcher, N. (2016). An individual subjectivist critique of the use of corpus linguistics to inform pedagogical materials. Dialogic Pedagogy, 4, https://doi.org/10.5195/dpj.2016.163

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 7, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 1, 2016
• Electronic ISSN: 2325-3290
• Publisher: University of Pittsburgh, University Library System
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5195/dpj.2016.163
• Keywords: Corpus linguistics; critique; individual subjectivism
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9783