9 - Corpora and Language Theory

Summary

This chapter considers the contribution of corpus linguistics to theories of language. It is argued that corpus linguistics aids in the identification of units of form and meaning, and these units can be used to inform other approaches to language. Two are considered in some detail: construction grammar, which takes a cognitive approach to language; and systemic-functional linguistics, which interprets language as a predominantly social phenomenon. The chapter discusses a number of ‘encounters’ between corpus linguistics and these approaches, such as the intersection between corpus studies of academic discourse and Halliday’s concept of grammatical metaphor, or the contribution of pattern identification to appraisal theory. It is argued in this chapter that the unit known as the grammar pattern, identified through corpus studies, can be applied to enhance ideas about constructions. It is also argued that the same units can be applied to the SFL and further develop the concept of lexis as the most delicate grammar.