Corpora and Complexity in English Language Research

This collection showcases the groundbreaking achievements of William A. Kretzschmar’s work in sociolinguistics, text and corpus studies, and lexical studies, highlighting both his enduring legacy within the discipline and unique insights into language use and how we study language more broadly.

The volume is organized around the three key thematic strands underpinning Kretzschmar’s career, with a section each on Linguistic Atlas Studies, corpus linguistics, and complexity theory, respectively. The different sections link together to offer a holistic portrait of the spirit of innovation that has characterized Kretzschmar’s body of work. Each chapter represents a theoretical or methodological innovation that builds on Kretzschmar’s research, beginning with his pioneering work in applying complexity theory to language study and its subsequent implications for corpus linguistics and Linguistic Atlas Studies. In reflecting on both Kretzschmar’s influence and the cutting-edge emergent work inspired by it, the collection serves as a fitting tribute to the far-reaching impact of Kretzschmar’s achievements in linguistics.

This book will appeal to students and scholars interested in corpus linguistics, sociolinguistics, language variation, and dialectology.

Allison Burkette is Professor of Linguistics and Associate Dean for Graduate Education at the University of Kentucky. She is also the Editor of the Linguistic Atlas Project, the oldest and most expansive survey of American English to date. Her research areas include language variation and change, American English dialects, and language and material culture.

Becky Childs is Professor of Linguistics in the Department of English and Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Letters at James Madison University.

Susan Tamasi is Teaching Professor and Director of the Linguistics Program at Emory University. Her research focuses on language variation & change as well as attitudes toward English dialects. She also studies communication as a fundamental part of healthcare.