KEYWORD ANALYSIS IN CORPUS LINGUISTICS
Keywords:
Keyword analysis, corpus linguistics, frequency, log-likelihood, chi-square, concordance, corpus comparison, lexical pattern, discourse analysis, genre variation, register, collocation, frequency profiling, corpus tool, stylistic analysis, data-driven learning, thematic focus, computational linguistics, text analysis, keyword extraction.Abstract
This article explores the concept and applications of keyword analysis in corpus linguistics, an essential method for identifying words that are statistically significant or unusually frequent in a particular text or corpus compared to a reference corpus. Keyword analysis provides insights into the distinctive features, themes, and communicative focus of texts, genres, or registers. It helps linguists discover patterns of lexical variation, ideology, and discourse structure that cannot be observed through intuition alone. The paper discusses how keyword analysis is conducted using statistical measures such as log-likelihood and chi-square tests, implemented through corpus tools like WordSmith Tools, Sketch Engine, and AntConc. It also demonstrates how keywords reveal linguistic and cultural tendencies—for example, political speeches emphasizing freedom and nation, or academic writing featuring research and evidence. Furthermore, the study highlights the pedagogical and sociolinguistic applications of keyword analysis, including genre comparison, discourse analysis, and educational material design. Ultimately, keyword analysis provides a bridge between quantitative data and qualitative interpretation, enabling linguists to understand how lexical choice reflects meaning, purpose, and ideology
References
1.Baker, P. Using Corpora in Discourse Analysis. Continuum, 2006.
2. Scott, M. WordSmith Tools Version 4. Oxford University Press, 1999.
3. Bondi, M. Keyness in Texts. John Benjamins, 2010.
4. Hyland, K. Academic Discourse: English in a Global Context. Continuum, 2008.
5. Stubbs, M. Text and Corpus Analysis. Blackwell, 1996.
6. McEnery, T., & Hardie, A. Corpus Linguistics: Method, Theory and Practice. Cambridge University Press, 2012.
7. Leech, G. Language Variation and Change. Routledge, 2000.
8. Biber, D. Variation Across Speech and Writing. Cambridge University Press, 1988.
9. Sinclair, J. Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford University Press, 1991.
10. Kilgarriff, A. Corpora and Language Comparison: Keyness and Frequency Distribution. International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, 2014.
11. Baker, P., Hardie, A., & McEnery, T. A Glossary of Corpus Linguistics. Edinburgh University Press, 2006.
12. Gabrielatos, C. & Marchi, A. Keyness: Appropriate Metrics and Practical Issues. In Proceedings of the Corpus Linguistics Conference, Lancaster University, 2012.
