Přednáška Prof. Susan Hunston (University of Birmingham, UK)

Pondělí 29.10.2012 v 17 hod, místnost 104

‘Flavours’ of Corpus Research: the case of evaluative language

The topic of evaluative language, also broadly speaking known as stance, appraisal, sentiment and other terms, has been studied from both discourse and corpus perspectives. It is therefore an example of approaches that combine these two complementary ways of investigating naturally-occurring discourse. This paper summarises a number of studies of evaluative language which focus in different ways on phraseology and which are based on corpus research. It uses this as a way of exploring parameters or dimensions of achievement in corpus research, for which the term ‘flavours’ is selected. The paper suggests that the ‘flavours’ are competing demands or criteria that operate when corpus research is undertaken, such that it is not possible to meet all of them at any one time. Evaluative language is used as a focus for thinking about these conflicting challenges. For ‘flavours’ are suggested: extent, reach, depth and strength.

Susan Hunston is Professor of English Language at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on two areas: Corpus linguistics, especially the interface between lexis and grammar, phraseology, and the contribution of corpus linguistics to Applied Linguistics and to discourse studies; and Discourse Analysis, in particular the study of evaluative language and the analysis of written academic English. Her most recent publications include Corpus Approaches to Evaluation (2011, Routledge), Academic Writing: at the interface of corpus and discourse (2009, Continuum, edited with M. Charles and D. Pecorari), Introducing Applied Linguistics: concepts and skills (2009, Routledge, edited with D. Oakey), System and Corpus: Exploring connections (Equinox, edited with G. Thompson), Corpora in Applied Linguistics (2002, Cambridge University Press).

See Prof. Hunston's Webpage.