Exploring the interface between Corpus Linguistics and English for Academic Purposes: What, how and why?

The present chapter explores the interface between corpus linguistics (CL) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and shows how EAP professionals and students can profit from such interfaces. To this end, the chapter is structured into three main parts: the ‘what,’ the ‘how’ and the ‘why.’ In the first section, I briefly discuss some of the main contributions that CL has made to the field of EAP. The review of the existing literature focuses on written discourse, which has higher stakes in academic contexts, and is accompanied by a few case studies to support readers’ full understanding of the CL-EAP interface. The case studies all arise from real-life examples that I have come across in my EAP professional experience. The second section focuses on practical matters: it shows readers how they can conduct their own corpus investigations. This illustration is guided by the questions based on the case studies, and it draws on open-access resources to ensure that anyone with Internet access can investigate corpora. I then consider the reasons why EAP professionals and students should engage in CL as an autonomous way of developing their lifelong learning of EAP. Finally, I acknowledge the limitations of the CL-EAP interface and indicate the further need for the development of context-sensitive EAP materials that draw on CL.