‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context

John Williams

‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context

School of Education, Languages and Linguistics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

Corpus linguistics may be defined as the compilation and analysis of large searchable databases of authentic language (corpora). In recent years it has moved beyond its beginnings in academic linguistics and lexicography to establish itself as a research tool in the digital humanities (Adolphs & Knight, 2020) and the social sciences more generally, including legal studies. Clark Cunningham’s ‘Law & Linguistics’ resources page (Cunningham, n.d.) is a good place to start exploring this body of work.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics: An Introduction to our Research
Editors	Peter Watkins, Helen Ringrow
Publisher	University of Portsmouth
Chapter	6
Pages	38-46
Number of pages	9
Publication status	Accepted for publication - 1 Dec 2023

Keywords

Language and the law
ambiguity
corpus linguistics
pragmatics

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https://portdotacdotuk-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/john_x_williams_port_ac_uk/EeHcF4-3lotElyY3IirCjhgBegNuBEjaOdfL-Y8DhKexFQ?e=HjjPgALicence: Unspecified

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Williams, J. (Accepted/In press). ‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context. In P. Watkins, & H. Ringrow (Eds.), The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics: An Introduction to our Research (pp. 38-46). University of Portsmouth. https://portdotacdotuk-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/john_x_williams_port_ac_uk/EeHcF4-3lotElyY3IirCjhgBegNuBEjaOdfL-Y8DhKexFQ?e=HjjPgA

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abstract = "Corpus linguistics may be defined as the compilation and analysis of large searchable databases of authentic language (corpora). In recent years it has moved beyond its beginnings in academic linguistics and lexicography to establish itself as a research tool in the digital humanities (Adolphs \& Knight, 2020) and the social sciences more generally, including legal studies. Clark Cunningham{\textquoteright}s {\textquoteleft}Law \& Linguistics{\textquoteright} resources page (Cunningham, n.d.) is a good place to start exploring this body of work.",

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author = "John Williams",

year = "2023",

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pages = "38--46",

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Williams, J 2023, ‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context. in P Watkins & H Ringrow (eds), The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics: An Introduction to our Research. University of Portsmouth, pp. 38-46. <https://portdotacdotuk-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/john_x_williams_port_ac_uk/EeHcF4-3lotElyY3IirCjhgBegNuBEjaOdfL-Y8DhKexFQ?e=HjjPgA>

‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context. / Williams, John.
The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics: An Introduction to our Research. ed. / Peter Watkins; Helen Ringrow. University of Portsmouth, 2023. p. 38-46.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - ‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context

AU - Williams, John

PY - 2023/12/1

Y1 - 2023/12/1

N2 - Corpus linguistics may be defined as the compilation and analysis of large searchable databases of authentic language (corpora). In recent years it has moved beyond its beginnings in academic linguistics and lexicography to establish itself as a research tool in the digital humanities (Adolphs & Knight, 2020) and the social sciences more generally, including legal studies. Clark Cunningham’s ‘Law & Linguistics’ resources page (Cunningham, n.d.) is a good place to start exploring this body of work.

AB - Corpus linguistics may be defined as the compilation and analysis of large searchable databases of authentic language (corpora). In recent years it has moved beyond its beginnings in academic linguistics and lexicography to establish itself as a research tool in the digital humanities (Adolphs & Knight, 2020) and the social sciences more generally, including legal studies. Clark Cunningham’s ‘Law & Linguistics’ resources page (Cunningham, n.d.) is a good place to start exploring this body of work.

KW - Language and the law

KW - ambiguity

KW - corpus linguistics

KW - pragmatics

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SP - 38

EP - 46

BT - The School of Education, Languages and Linguistics: An Introduction to our Research

A2 - Watkins, Peter

A2 - Ringrow, Helen

PB - University of Portsmouth

ER -

‘Who benefits?’: A case study in using language corpora to resolve ambiguity (or not) in a legal context

Abstract

Keywords

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