LING - SL issues in linguistic methods

What are corpus linguistics

Method of systematically investigating patterns of language variation + use across large samples of users

Documenting, archiving, and creating machine-readable data representative of specific language users

Differentiates between shared things across social networks + things specific to individuals

What is Sign Language Corpora

Typically focuses on specific cohort of signers

• native signers

• different regions

• different tasks

Addresses issues with traditional grammaticality judgments

Auslan corpus

Digital video of Auslan used by deaf native / early learners / near-natives

Negatives of corpus methods

Not representative of entire signing communities

People who learn later in life are not included; including deaf migrants or refugees

Therefore, can rarely claim to be entirely balanced and representative

What is linguistic ethnography

Interdisciplinary community of scholars bringing together linguistic and ethnographic methodologies in the study of language use in social life

Allows researchers to “open up” complexities of the everyday communicative lives + “tie down” ethnographic insights with detailed linguistic analyses of communicative practice