Corpus linguistics in second language vocabulary research

Corpus linguistics enables researchers to identify typical patterns of natural language use with the aid of specialized computer programs. Despite being relatively new, corpus linguistics has offered second language (L2) research an innovative method to investigate various aspects of language use and has made significant contributions to language learning, teaching, and assessment. This chapter will discuss the applications of corpus linguistics in L2 vocabulary research. The first section will introduce the definition of corpus linguistics and its value as a method in L2 vocabulary studies. The second section will present the applications of corpus linguistics in three major strands of vocabulary research: description, assessment, and pedagogy. The third section will discuss future directions for corpus-driven vocabulary studies and conclude the chapter. Overall, the chapter will showcase the value of corpus linguistics as an innovative method in vocabulary studies in particular and L2 research in general.