Corpus Methods in Syntax

Here is the syllabus from the course I taught on corpus methods in syntax at UC Berkeley, Fall 2000. The labs (with answer keys) are all available here.

Synopsis

This class will cover (1) tools and techniques for using natural language corpora and (2) the research methodology of previous corpus-based studies of syntax.

Texts

Required:
- Kennedy, Graeme. 1998. An Introduction to Corpus Linguistics. London: Longman.
- Short course reader, available later in the semester.
Recommended:
- Schwartz, Randal L. 1993. Learning Perl. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates.

Course requirements

Lab

Now that the lecture has been reduced from one and a half hours to one hour, the lab will take the "full" two hours (minus :10, of course) from 1-3.

You can also go to the lab during open hours to use those computers to log in to corpora.berkeley.edu. The open hours are subject to change, so be sure to check (at the link above) when you plan to go.

Term project

The primary course requirement is a term project involving original, corpus-based research. You will be asked to turn in a proposal early in the semester so that I can help you design and execute your project. Proposals will also be discussed in class.

S/U credit

S/U credit will be given for attendance and participation. However, S/U students who want to do a term project, or who have some other project they'd like to "workshop" are welcome to do so.

Deadlines

Term project proposal (1 page) 10/2

Term project abstract (BLS/CLS style) 11/27

Term paper writing up results of project 12/15

Schedule of Topics

This schedule is tentative. The lab topics may change depending on what resources we can acquire and when. The lecture topics may change depending on how many students wish to workshop their projects.

Week of Lecture Lab

8/28
Why corpus syntax?
(Kennedy Ch 1) Lab orientation
Web resources

9/4 Corpora
Kennedy Ch 2 Intro to Unix

9/11 English corpus syntax: Lexis
Kennedy Ch 3.1--3.2 grep
regular expressions

9/18 English corpus syntax: Lexis (cont)
Kennedy Ch 3.2
Update on ANC tagged corpora

9/25 English corpus syntax: Grammar
Kennedy Ch 3.3--3.4
Fillmore on FrameNet: 2-4pm 6th floor ICSI Catch-up/review

10/2 English corpus syntax: Variation
Kennedy Ch 3.5 tgrep I

Project proposal due 10/2

10/9 Corpus-based analysis
Kennedy Ch 5.1--5.2 tgrep II

10/16 Project workshop Catch-up/review

10/23 Project workshop Perl

10/30 Statistical sampling Perl

11/6 Applying corpus methods
Arnold et al. 2000 NO LAB (Veteran's Day)

11/13 Frequencies and competence
MacDonald 1994 Perl

11/20 Frequencies and grammaticality
Sampson 1987 NO LAB (Thanksgiving)

11/27 The balancing act
Abney 1996 Perl

Project abstract due 11/28

12/4 Wrap-up/review Perl

Final paper due 12/15

Emily M. Bender (bender at csli dot stanford dot edu)
Last modified: Nov 6 2001

Term project proposal (1 page)	10/2
Term project abstract (BLS/CLS style)	11/27
Term paper writing up results of project	12/15

Week of	Lecture	Lab
8/28	Why corpus syntax? (Kennedy Ch 1)	Lab orientation Web resources
9/4	Corpora Kennedy Ch 2	Intro to Unix
9/11	English corpus syntax: Lexis Kennedy Ch 3.1--3.2	grep regular expressions
9/18	English corpus syntax: Lexis (cont) Kennedy Ch 3.2 Update on ANC	tagged corpora
9/25	English corpus syntax: Grammar Kennedy Ch 3.3--3.4 Fillmore on FrameNet: 2-4pm 6th floor ICSI	Catch-up/review
10/2	English corpus syntax: Variation Kennedy Ch 3.5	tgrep I
		Project proposal due 10/2
10/9	Corpus-based analysis Kennedy Ch 5.1--5.2	tgrep II
10/16	Project workshop	Catch-up/review
10/23	Project workshop	Perl
10/30	Statistical sampling	Perl
11/6	Applying corpus methods Arnold et al. 2000	NO LAB (Veteran's Day)
11/13	Frequencies and competence MacDonald 1994	Perl
11/20	Frequencies and grammaticality Sampson 1987	NO LAB (Thanksgiving)
11/27	The balancing act Abney 1996	Perl
		Project abstract due 11/28
12/4	Wrap-up/review	Perl
		Final paper due 12/15