Corpus Linguistics in the UK: Resources for Sociolinguistic Research

Sociolinguistics has always relied on authentic data, and is increasingly finding value in the methods and textual resources developed by corpus linguists. This article begins by surveying current activity in corpus linguistics in the UK in terms of publications, conferences and networks, and then outlines the range of research currently ongoing, with a particular focus on corpus resources that are readily available and likely to be of use to sociolinguists. This includes general corpora, specialized corpora, and corpora of regional or historical varieties, as well as tools and initiatives for standardization and data-sharing, which aim to allow users to exploit corpora as fully as possible. The focus is largely on corpora of English, but corpora of other languages are also considered. The discussion treats corpora from the point of view of their availability and the provision of accompanying metadata, both issues central to effective sociolinguistic enquiry.