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.

In this episode of CorpusCast, host Dr Robbie Love is joined by Dr Guyanne Wilson, Quirk Lecturer in English Linguistics at University College London, to explore the fascinating role of corpus linguistics in studying World Englishes.

With experience in compiling corpora from Trinidad and Tobago to Uganda, Dr Wilson unpacks the development of these English varieties and the social, linguistic, and historical contexts in which they thrive.

From her academic journey, starting in Trinidad and Tobago, to her current position at UCL as the Quirk Lecturer in English Linguistics, Dr Wilson shares insights into the importance of documenting diverse Englishes, emphasising the value of corpus linguistics in social justice.

The episode looks into the challenges of building corpora, working with historical language data and the evolving norms in English usage around the world. Join us for a discussion into the intersection of linguistics, history and global diversity.

In this episode of CorpusCast, host Dr Robbie Love welcomes Professor Shelley Staples from the University of Arizona to dive deep into the fascinating world of learner corpora and how they can revolutionise the way we approach academic writing, especially for students writing in English as a second language. Professor Staples shares her journey into corpus linguistics and her innovative use of learner corpora to support students in developing their academic literacy. They discuss her major projects, including the Corpus and Repository of Writing (Crow), which houses a vast collection of student writing samples used to explore linguistic patterns, genre conventions, and the nuances of academic discourse. Shelley explains how this data-driven approach not only helps in identifying effective writing strategies but also empowers students by showing the value of their contributions to the academic community. The conversation also touches on the challenges and ethical considerations of using learner data, the potential impacts of AI on student writing, and the importance of an asset-oriented approach to language learning. Whether you're an educator, linguist, or just curious about the intersection of language and technology, this episode offers valuable insights into the evolving field of corpus linguistics and its practical applications in education. Tune in to learn how corpus-based research can enhance both teaching and learning, making academic writing more accessible and effective for students across the globe. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Shelley Staples 👉 https://t.ly/eJ-b2 Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

In this episode of CorpusCast, Dr Robbie Love is joined by Professor Vaclav Brezina from Lancaster University to discuss #LancsBox, a corpus tool developed to assist researchers in visualizing and analysing linguistic data. Professor Brezina explains the development and purpose of #LancsBox, addressing the gaps it fills in existing tools. Learn about the features of #LancsBox, including the wizard tool that simplifies data analysis and its capability to handle large datasets. The discussion also covers its applications in various research projects, from analysing spoken language to studying multi-word expressions. Dr Love and Professor Brezina explore the broader landscape of corpus linguistics tools, the role of user feedback in tool development and the future of corpus research in the context of AI and big data. This episode provides insights into the current advancements in corpus linguistics and the ways tools like #LancsBox contribute to language research. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Vaclav Brezina 👉 https://t.ly/Q--Bx Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

Welcome to another episode of CorpusCast, the podcast from Aston University dedicated to exploring corpus linguistics and its impact on society. Hosted by Dr Robbie Love, this episode takes a look at the sentimental world of nostalgia and its significant role in public discourse. In this episode, Robbie is joined by two guests, Professor Charlotte Taylor from the University of Sussex and Senior Assistant Professor Dr Anna Marchi from the University of Bologna. Both experts have extensive experience in discourse analysis and corpus linguistics, particularly in the areas of political and media discourse. Together, they will guide listeners on a nostalgic journey, exploring how the language of the past is used persuasively in various contexts. From media narratives to political rhetoric, the discussion will uncover how nostalgia can be a powerful tool in shaping public opinion and storytelling. Join us as we uncover the warmth and complexity of nostalgic language and its broader implications for society. Whether you're a seasoned linguist or just curious about the power of words, this episode promises to provide valuable insights into the intersection of language, emotion and society. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Charlotte Taylor 👉 https://t.ly/nyRkd Dr Anna Marchi 👉 https://t.ly/TmFja Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston

In this episode, Robbie chats to Professor Dan McIntyre, from Uppsala University, about the world of corpus stylistics. Professor McIntyre shares his journey from an early fascination with language to becoming a leading figure in stylistics, corpus linguistics and the history of the English language. He discusses the evolution of corpus stylistics, a method combining corpus linguistic techniques with stylistic analysis to study both literary and non-literary texts. The conversation covers essential concepts like keyness and foregrounding, the challenges of studying contemporary literary texts due to copyright issues, and the importance of understanding corpus as a representative sample of language data. They also explore the broader context of higher education and the threats facing humanities disciplines, emphasising the need for public engagement and outreach. Professor McIntyre offers valuable advice for students embarking on corpus linguistics research and discusses the impact of Babel, the languages and linguistics magazine he co-founded. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that highlights the intersection of linguistics, literature, and the digital age. Dr Robbie Love 👉 https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Professor Dan McIntyre 👉 https://t.ly/6Wjc2 Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics 👉 https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities 👉 https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show 👉 https://bit.ly/3pR705k #teamaston Don't forget to share your thoughts using the hashtag #CorpusCast and follow the Aston Corpus Linguistics Research Group on X at @AstonCorpus.