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Chapter 2. Corpus linguistics and ethics

  • Gavin Brookes and Tony McEnery
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Ethical Issues in Applied Linguistics Scholarship
This chapter is in the book Ethical Issues in Applied Linguistics Scholarship

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore the ethical considerations attending to research and practice in corpus linguistics. Despite the ubiquity of ethical dilemmas in corpus construction and use, there has been scant literature dedicated to ethical practices within the discipline. This gap is particularly pronounced given the increasing engagement with digital and online data sources, which pose unique ethical challenges regarding issues such as consent, privacy, and the public-private dichotomy. The chapter addresses these ethical considerations, and more besides, from the inter-related perspectives of research participants, corpus builders, distributors, and users. Importantly, the chapter highlights how ethical considerations are not confined to discrete stages of corpus linguistic projects but, rather, are interwoven throughout the research lifecycle. Key issues addressed include informed consent, participant anonymity, the ethical implications of using publicly available versus private communications, and the responsibilities of corpus users to ensure the meaningful, truthful, and fair representation of their findings. The chapter aims to respond to the need for more nuanced ethical guidelines that reflect the diversity of data sources and research contexts that characterise contemporary corpus linguistics, advocating for a reflective, case-by-case approach to ethical decision-making.

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore the ethical considerations attending to research and practice in corpus linguistics. Despite the ubiquity of ethical dilemmas in corpus construction and use, there has been scant literature dedicated to ethical practices within the discipline. This gap is particularly pronounced given the increasing engagement with digital and online data sources, which pose unique ethical challenges regarding issues such as consent, privacy, and the public-private dichotomy. The chapter addresses these ethical considerations, and more besides, from the inter-related perspectives of research participants, corpus builders, distributors, and users. Importantly, the chapter highlights how ethical considerations are not confined to discrete stages of corpus linguistic projects but, rather, are interwoven throughout the research lifecycle. Key issues addressed include informed consent, participant anonymity, the ethical implications of using publicly available versus private communications, and the responsibilities of corpus users to ensure the meaningful, truthful, and fair representation of their findings. The chapter aims to respond to the need for more nuanced ethical guidelines that reflect the diversity of data sources and research contexts that characterise contemporary corpus linguistics, advocating for a reflective, case-by-case approach to ethical decision-making.

Chapters in this book

  1. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section I. Methodological approaches
  6. Chapter 1. A taxonomy of questionable research practices in quantitative humanities 10
  7. Chapter 2. Corpus linguistics and ethics 28
  8. Chapter 3. Ethical issues in educational action research 45
  9. Chapter 4. Doing research in culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 classrooms 59
  10. Chapter 5. Ethical considerations for research involving computer-assisted language learning, social media, and online environments 72
  11. Chapter 6. Transcription as ethics 87
  12. Commentary on Section I 110
  13. Section II. Specific populations and research contexts
  14. Chapter 7. The zero-sum game of beneficence 122
  15. Chapter 8. Ethical research with adult migrant language learners 136
  16. Chapter 9. Ethics in heritage language education 155
  17. Chapter 10. The ethics of indigenous language revitalization 172
  18. Chapter 11. “Where you from, who’s your Mob?” 192
  19. Commentary on Section II 210
  20. Section III. Pedagogy and policy
  21. Chapter 12. Ethical research considerations in classroom and online spaces with bilingual students and their teachers 218
  22. Chapter 13. Ethical issues in language testing 235
  23. Chapter 14. Navigating ethical challenges in L2 writing in transnational higher education 249
  24. Chapter 15. Challenges of justice and equity for ethical English as an additional language in school education 266
  25. Commentary on Section III 285
  26. Section IV. Personal and interactive aspects of research and scholarship
  27. Chapter 16. Managing publication expectations and collaborations 296
  28. Chapter 17. Ethical dilemmas of graduate students negotiating new roles and responsibilities 310
  29. Chapter 18. Research ethics and decisions 328
  30. Chapter 19. The ethical gray area 341
  31. Commentary on Section IV 355
  32. Afterword 364
  33. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 371
https://doi.org/10.1075/rmal.7.02bro

Chapters in this book

  1. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Foreword ix
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section I. Methodological approaches
  6. Chapter 1. A taxonomy of questionable research practices in quantitative humanities 10
  7. Chapter 2. Corpus linguistics and ethics 28
  8. Chapter 3. Ethical issues in educational action research 45
  9. Chapter 4. Doing research in culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 classrooms 59
  10. Chapter 5. Ethical considerations for research involving computer-assisted language learning, social media, and online environments 72
  11. Chapter 6. Transcription as ethics 87
  12. Commentary on Section I 110
  13. Section II. Specific populations and research contexts
  14. Chapter 7. The zero-sum game of beneficence 122
  15. Chapter 8. Ethical research with adult migrant language learners 136
  16. Chapter 9. Ethics in heritage language education 155
  17. Chapter 10. The ethics of indigenous language revitalization 172
  18. Chapter 11. “Where you from, who’s your Mob?” 192
  19. Commentary on Section II 210
  20. Section III. Pedagogy and policy
  21. Chapter 12. Ethical research considerations in classroom and online spaces with bilingual students and their teachers 218
  22. Chapter 13. Ethical issues in language testing 235
  23. Chapter 14. Navigating ethical challenges in L2 writing in transnational higher education 249
  24. Chapter 15. Challenges of justice and equity for ethical English as an additional language in school education 266
  25. Commentary on Section III 285
  26. Section IV. Personal and interactive aspects of research and scholarship
  27. Chapter 16. Managing publication expectations and collaborations 296
  28. Chapter 17. Ethical dilemmas of graduate students negotiating new roles and responsibilities 310
  29. Chapter 18. Research ethics and decisions 328
  30. Chapter 19. The ethical gray area 341
  31. Commentary on Section IV 355
  32. Afterword 364
  33. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 371
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