Corporas, also spelled corpora, is the plural form of the noun corpus. A corpus refers to a collection or body of written or spoken texts that have been systematically gathered and specifically used for linguistic analysis and study. It serves as a representative sample of a language or a particular type of discourse.
Corporas are typically created to investigate various linguistic phenomena, such as word usage, grammatical patterns, collocations, or semantic relationships. They can vary in size and scope, ranging from small corporas that contain hundreds of texts to massive corporas that comprise millions of words. The texts within a corpus can be sourced from a variety of genres, including books, newspapers, websites, speeches, conversations, or even social media posts.
The primary purpose of employing corporas in linguistic research is to provide empirical evidence and insights into the characteristics of language usage. By studying a corpus, linguists can observe and analyze patterns and trends in language, which helps them gain a better understanding of how language functions and develops over time. Corporas enable researchers to examine language in context and make evidence-based claims about grammar, syntax, vocabulary, and other linguistic features.
Overall, corporas are invaluable linguistic resources that aid in the scientific investigation and description of languages, allowing researchers to make generalizations about language usage and provide accurate information for language learners, lexicographers, translators, and other individuals interested in understanding and analyzing language.
