• Maillat Didier

Following the big data revolution, data, including real English data, is just one click away. However, what distinguishes a language scholar from a lay person is his/her ability to summon the right method for the research question s/he is asking about English. Indeed, in order to study the English language from a scientific perspective, some specific methods are required. In this course we will focus on the methodologies associated with empirical fieldwork investigation: from real data collection to basic experimental designs, from data analysis and categorisation to quantitative analysis. We will see how these methods are put to work to proceed from a research question to testing our hypothesis and using our findings as evidence supporting a theoretical model for the English language.

This course will be particularly useful for students who are thinking of working on original (empirical) English data for a paper, BA thesis, or an Applied Project in English Linguistics. It would also be quite a valuable investment for students planning an MA thesis in English linguistics. 

- overview of empirical methods for the study of English
- methodological tools used to analyse the English language
- knowledge of the central concepts in the field
- practical approach to collecting data
- understanding of the scientific approach to the study of the English language
- essay writing skills for English linguistics

A bibliography and a list of assigned readings will be made available in the first week of the semester.