Corpora and Complexity in English Language Research

Essays in Honor of William A. Kretzschmar, Jr.
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-00183-6
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 200 Seiten, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm

Reihe: Routledge Studies in Sociolinguistics

This collection showcases the groundbreaking achievements of William A. Kretzschmar’s work in sociolinguistics, text and corpus studies, and lexical studies, highlighting both his enduring legacy within the discipline and unique insights into language use and how we study language more broadly.

The volume is organized around the three key thematic strands underpinning Kretzschmar’s career, with a section each on Linguistic Atlas Studies, corpus linguistics, and complexity theory, respectively. The different sections link together to offer a holistic portrait of the spirit of innovation that has characterized Kretzschmar’s body of work. Each chapter represents a theoretical or methodological innovation that builds on Kretzschmar’s research, beginning with his pioneering work in applying complexity theory to language study and its subsequent implications for corpus linguistics and Linguistic Atlas Studies. In reflecting on both Kretzschmar’s influence and the cutting-edge emergent work inspired by it, the collection serves as a fitting tribute to the far-reaching impact of Kretzschmar’s achievements in linguistics.

This book will appeal to students and scholars interested in corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, language variation, and dialectology.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Burkette, Allison

Childs, Becky

Tamasi, Susan

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Soziolinguistik
• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Sprachwissenschaften

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction Allison Burkette, Becky Childs, Susan Tamasi, Part 1: Linguistic Atlas Studies, 1. Semantics and pragmatics meet the LAP: Attitudes in action Dennis R. Preston, 2. The Geographical and Social Distribution of ain't in the Linguistic Atlas Project Lamont Antieau, 3. Word Lore: the Case of Shakerag Claiborne Rice, 4. Linguistic Atlas Project fieldworker comments and their connection to the material world Allison Burkette, Part 2: Corpus Linguistics, 5. Looking for the Smoking Gun': Kretzschmar's Take on Forensic Corpus Analysis Marianne Mason, 6. Keep Calm and Vape On: Representations of E-Cigarettes in US and UK Press Katherine Ireland, 7. Complexity in American editorial discourse: Collocation and discourse around immigrants Michael Olsen, 8. "To the Curious in Fish Sauce": shopping lists, family quarrels and lexical sociolinguistics Laura Wright, Part 3: Complexity, 9. Dialect boundaries from a complex systems perspective Edgar W. Schneider, 10. Evidence-of and evidence-for: A methodological reflection Michael Adams, 11. Complexity Theory and Linguistic Perceptions: Evidence from Polish and American Dialects Paulina Bounds, 12. Fresh perspectives on sociolinguistic prosody: A complex systems approach to f0 analysis in semi-spontaneous speech Rachel Miller Olsen, 13. Lessons from the Linguistic Atlas Project in the documentation of language variation in Kriolu Marlyse Baptista, 14. Language Variation in Early 20th Century Rural Utah Joseph A. Stanley & Hallie Davidson, Index

Über Autor(innen)

Allison Burkette is Professor of Linguistics and Associate Dean for Graduate Education at the University of Kentucky. She is also the Editor of the Linguistic Atlas Project, the oldest and most expansive survey of American English to date. Her research areas include language variation and change, American English dialects, and language and material culture.

Becky Childs is Professor of Linguistics in the Department of English and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Letters at James Madison University.

Susan Tamasi is Teaching Professor and Director of the Linguistics Program at Emory University. Her research focuses on language variation & change as well as attitudes toward English dialects. She also studies communication as a fundamental part of healthcare.