Welcome to a one off special!

No CorpusCast isn't returning but Robbie has recorded a one-off special episode with 'Writing Wrongs' the True Crime Forensic Linguistics podcast from the Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics.

Please take a listen to the Writing Wrongs back catalogue ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

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Here are the 'Writing Wrongs' show notes

for this episode:

* Warning: Today’s episode contains descriptions of wrongful conviction, terrorism, and rape. *

Welcome Wrong’uns to this special episode of Writing Wrongs in conjunction with another Aston Originals podcast: CorpusCast with Dr Robbie Love! Nicci, Tim, and Robbie rehash some of Writing Wrongs’ best clips involving corpus linguistics. Take a trip down memory lane as our hosts call back to S1E3, S1E7, S2E1&2, and S2E6&7, and grill Dr Love about the ins and outs of the use of corpus in forensic linguistics.

Please take a listen to the CorpusCast back catalogue here or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.

CorpusCast is the podcast about corpus linguistics and what it can do for society. Join Dr Robbie Love as he speaks with top researchers in the field to find out more about how corpus linguistics – the study of linguistic patterns in large samples of language – is applied in a diverse range of contexts including education, health and technology. CorpusCast is an official Aston University podcast, part of the Aston Originals series.

VOTE FOR US IN THE TRUE CRIME AWARDS 2026!

For a list of our sources and more information about this case, please visit https://www.aston.ac.uk/writing-wrongs

Have a question for Nicci or Tim? Email us at writingwrongs@aston.ac.uk and we may answer it during an upcoming episode!

Check out the official AIFL blog for more forensic linguistic goodies here: https://medium.com/@AIFLblog

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this week’s episode, please contact one of these free sources:

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/

https://www.helpguide.org/find-help

Production Team: Mark Round, Jordan Robertson, Neus Alberich Buera, Karolina Placzynta

Sound: Mark Round

Visual design: George Grant

Additional Voices: Prof Malcolm Coulthard, Dr Issy Clarke, Dr Andrea Nini

With our thanks to Dr Robbie Love

Professor Tim Grant’s home page: Tim Grant - Aston Research Explorer

Dr Nicci MacLeod’s home page: Nicci MacLeod - Aston Research Explorer

Dr Robbie Love’s home page: Dr Love's Website; Robbie Love - Aston Researcher Explorer

Resources

In this bittersweet conclusion to CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love takes on a new role as the interviewee, with long-time producer Sam Cook stepping into the host’s chair. Reflecting on three years and 36 episodes of conversations about corpus linguistics and its societal applications, this episode looks into the origins of the podcast, its evolution and memorable moments with guests from around the world. Robbie and Sam revisit the challenges and triumphs of producing CorpusCast, from coordinating interviews across multiple time zones to navigating the growth of AI and its impact on linguistics. Along the way, they share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, including wardrobe commentary, logistical nightmares and unexpected gems of candidness from past episodes. Robbie offers heartfelt thanks to the listeners and guests who have supported the show and provides his advice for aspiring corpus linguists. The episode ends with a reflection on the podcast’s legacy as a living record of corpus linguistics and a hint that this may not be a final farewell, but a “hiatus.” Whether you’ve been a long-time listener or are new to CorpusCast, this finale offers an engaging, humorous and reflective look at the podcast's journey. Thank you for listening - and stay tuned for whatever comes next...

In this episode of CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love dives into the transformative potential of statistics in corpus linguistics, featuring special guest Professor Stefan Th. Gries from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Known for his advocacy of rigorous statistical methods, Professor Gries challenges conventional approaches, pushing for statistical sophistication in understanding language. Throughout the conversation, Professor Gries shares how statistical modeling is changing the field by providing tools to quantify language patterns, moving beyond basic calculations to multifactorial models that address the complexity of linguistic data. With these advanced methods, researchers are better equipped to manage variability, enhancing the reliability and generalisability of corpus-based findings. The discussion also explores the shift toward mixed-effects modelling, which considers individual differences in language use, adding nuance to linguistic studies. Dr. Love and Professor Gries discuss the challenges students and researchers face in learning and applying these methods, as well as practical approaches to make complex statistics accessible to linguistics students and seasoned researchers alike. Whether you're new to corpus linguistics or a seasoned professional, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving role of statistics in the field. Don’t miss this enlightening discussion on the power of data in revealing hidden patterns in language.