NATIONAL CORPORA AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE IN LINGUISTICS

Abstract

This article explores the concept of national corpora and their importance in linguistic research. National corpora are large, structured collections of authentic language data that represent a particular language as used by its native speakers. They serve as valuable tools for studying vocabulary, grammar, discourse patterns, and language variation. The paper examines the development, functions, and applications of national corpora, emphasizing their role in promoting linguistic standardization, supporting lexicography, and fostering comparative studies. Examples such as the British National Corpus (BNC) and the Russian National Corpus (RNC) demonstrate how national corpora contribute to the understanding and preservation of linguistic identity.