Corpus-Assisted Discourse Studies and Learner Corpus Research: Methodological Innovations and Pedagogical Applications
Keywords:
corpus-assisted discourse studies, learner corpus research, topic modeling, metadata, second language acquisitionAbstract
Corpus-assisted discourse studies (CADS) and learner corpus research (LCR) represent two rapidly evolving domains within corpus linguistics, each offering unique methodological contributions to understanding language use and second language acquisition. This systematic review examines recent developments in both fields from 2023-2025, focusing on methodological innovations, theoretical frameworks, and pedagogical applications. Through analysis of 10 key publications, this study identifies three primary trends: increased automation through artificial intelligence integration, enhanced interdisciplinarity bridging corpus linguistics with discourse analysis and SLA theory, and growing diversity in corpus design and data collection methods. Findings reveal that CADS has expanded beyond traditional concordancing techniques to incorporate topic modeling and large language models for discourse analysis, while LCR has progressed toward more sophisticated metadata systems and multifactorial study designs. Both fields demonstrate significant pedagogical applications, though challenges persist in balancing quantitative rigor with qualitative depth and ensuring reproducibility of findings. This review proposes future research directions emphasizing transparent methodologies, collaborative corpus development, and practical tools accessible to language educators and researchers across diverse linguistic contexts
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