Web as Corpus

Abstract

In this thesis I want to discuss a relatively new area of Corpus Linguistics, namely the use of the WWW (HTTP protocol) as a corpus. Other Internet protocols (non-Web protocols) like FTP (file transfer protocol), e-mail, etc. will not be discussed here. Since the launch of the Internet in 1992, it has embraced our everyday activities comprehensively, as we use it for communication with others using different chat programs and forums, purchasing goods on e-commerce sites, and learning about almost everything through several interactive, online methods. The web is an unbelievably versatile and developing invention. Beside its commercial uses, the WWW can serve as a source of research for a number of scientific studies including Corpus Linguistics.