B1700 - Methods and Resources for Linguistic Data Analysis (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has an in-depth knowledge of how to design, annotate and consult the linguistic corpora dedicated to both the written and spoken language. He also knows the main technological tools for the management and analysis of corpora.

Course contents

The course aims to introduce students to empiricist methods for linguistic analysis. In particular, the following topics will be covered:

• Corpus Linguistics: corpus design strategies (i.e., representativeness and sampling).
• Digital text Management: encoding and mark-up.
• Annotation: methodologies, standards, and tools; inter-rater Agreement.
• Metadata.
• Building a spoken corpus: the transcription process.
• Corpus Interrogation.
• Regular Expressions.

During the course, practical activities will also be carried out (i.e., construction, annotation, and querying of a corpus; use of regular expressions; transcription of multimedia files in ELAN).

Prerequisites
The course has been designed for students with a basic background in linguistics (i.e. with competencies like those that are developed in General Linguistics classes).
The students who believe not to have this background knowledge are advised to refer to a basic handbook of linguistics (e.g. Berruto G. & Cerruti M., La linguistica. Un corso introduttivo. Torino, UTET, 2017).

Readings/Bibliography

Program for students who attend the lectures

1.  Lenci A., Montemagni S. & Pirrelli V. (2016). Testo e computer. Roma: Carocci.
2. Cresti E. & Panunzi A. (2013). Introduzione ai corpora dell'italiano. Bologna: Il Mulino.
3. Teaching material used in class and uploaded on the e-learning platform.

To be considered "attending students", participants must complete (and submit) the laboratory activities by the deadline.

Program for students who do not attend the lectures

1. Lenci A., Montemagni S. & Pirrelli V. (2016). Testo e computer. Roma: Carocci
2. Cresti E. & Panunzi A. (2013). Introduzione ai corpora dell'italiano. Bologna: Il Mulino.
3. Teaching material used in class and uploaded on the e-learning platform.
4. O’Keeffe A. & McCarthy M. (2010). The Routledge Handbook of Corpus Linguistics - Section I, II, III, and IV. London-NewYork: Routledge.

Students not attending the lessons are strongly invited to get in contact with the teachers, to avoid any misunderstanding about the course contents and reading materials.

Teaching methods

Lectures, collaborative discussion of scientific papers, practical exercises.

All students must attend - online - Modules 1 and 2 [https://corsi.unibo.it/magistrale/DatiMetodiModelliScienzeLinguistiche/formazione-obbligatoria-su-sicurezza-e-salute] on Health and Safety.

Assessment methods

The final exam is an oral colloquium dealing with the course contents; its aim is to evaluate the critical skills and methodological knowledge gained by the student.

As for attending students, the quality of the laboratory activities carried out during the course will be taken into consideration.

Reaching a clear view of all the course topics as well as using a correct language terminology will be valued with maximum grades. The capacity of building autonomous paths to connect different topics of the course will be appreciated.
Mnemonic knowledge of the course topics or not completely appropriate terminology will be valued with intermediate grades.
Unknown topics or inappropriate terminology use will be valued, depending on the seriousness of the omissions, with minimal or insufficient grades. 

The oral colloquia can be scheduled in different days depending on the number of students enrolled. The exact day will be communicated once the enrollment list will be closed.

Teaching tools

Didactic material will be made available on the course's online platform, Virtuale.

Students are required to download available documents and to regularly check for updates.

Office hours

See the website of Gloria Gagliardi