Corpus Linguistics As An Empirical Framework for Contemporary Linguistic Research and Language Acquisition

Abstract

Corpus linguistics has become an important approach to the systematic investigation of language because it examines authentic examples of language use through organized collections of texts. This article reviews the historical development of corpus-based research, outlines major corpus types, and considers the relationship between corpus linguistics and computational linguistics. It discusses the value of corpus data for examining meaning, grammatical patterns, collocations, language variation, and changes in usage over time. Particular attention is given to the application of corpora in foreign-language teaching, including vocabulary development, grammar instruction, and the analysis of learner errors. The article also identifies practical directions for further development, such as improving digital infrastructure, training teachers to use corpus tools, and maintaining accessible, up-to-date information about available corpora. It argues that wider integration of corpus methods into language education and research can support evidence-based descriptions of language and more informed teaching practices.