About this item
Highlights
- Quantitative Methods in Linguistics offers a practical introduction to statistics and quantitative analysis with data sets drawn from the field and coverage of phonetics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and syntax, as well as probability distribution and quantitative methods.
- About the Author: Keith Johnson is Professor of Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley.
- 304 Pages
- Language + Art + Disciplines, Language Arts
Description
Book Synopsis
Quantitative Methods in Linguistics offers a practical introduction to statistics and quantitative analysis with data sets drawn from the field and coverage of phonetics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and syntax, as well as probability distribution and quantitative methods.
- Provides balanced treatment of the practical aspects of handling quantitative linguistic data
- Includes sample datasets contributed by researchers working in a variety of sub-disciplines of linguistics
- Uses R, the statistical software package most commonly used by linguists, to discover patterns in quantitative data and to test linguistic hypotheses
- Includes student-friendly end-of-chapter assignments and is accompanied by online resources at available in the 'Downloads' section, below
From the Back Cover
Quantitative Methods in Linguistics introduces the general strategies and methods of quantitative analysis. The book dedicates individual chapters to phonetics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and syntax, as well as two introductory chapters on probability distribution and quantitative methods.Each chapter uses actual data sets which have been contributed by researchers working in the field to illustrate key principles. The book also provides detailed instruction in practical aspects of handling quantitative linguistic data by using statistical software package (R) to discover patterns in quantitative data and to test linguistic hypotheses. End-of-chapter assignments and a balanced presentation make this an ideal text for students.
Further information and resources are available from the accompanying website at www.blackwellpublishing.com/quantmethods.
Review Quotes
"As research in the language sciences becomes more interdisciplinary, students must become proficient in a wider range of data analysis methods. Johnson's text is a comprehensive and detailed introduction to some of the most widely used statistical methods in language research. The book teaches by example, walking the reader through the analysis of data sets using the software package R, which provides concrete understanding of how to apply the methods, not just understand them conceptually. This is a good practical text, one that can serve as a handbook, and is appropriate for graduate students and advanced undergraduates who are doing research in the broad field of language." Mark A Pitt, Ohio State University
"Johnson's book is a catalyst for change in linguistics. Increasingly, the subjective, impressionistic data collection method is being replaced by objective, quantitative measurements. This book serves an important function in this process leading students step-by-step toward using statistical methods to analyze complex data." Chilin Shih, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"This rich and rewarding textbook is a must-read for all students and researchers who wish to follow the new wave of sophisticated empirical models and methods now sweeping the field of linguistics from phonetics to syntax and semantics." Joan Bresnan, Stanford University
About the Author
Keith Johnson is Professor of Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Acoustic and Auditory Phonetics, Second Edition (Blackwell, 2002), as well as numerous articles on phonetics and speech perception.