Using concordance samples to improve your English

Using Corpora to Teach Discipline-Specific Vocabulary
Jenny Kemp SFHEA, University of Leicester
BALEAP 2015 Conference
(17th-19th April, Leicester)
Teaching ESP can be daunting, particularly if the field is unfamiliar. This presentation
will demonstrate the value of using existing and purpose-built corpora to assess the
lexical needs of international postgraduate Law students and to prepare materials for
their vocabulary development. Attendees will take away ideas and materials to adapt
for use in their own ESP context.
References
Biber, D., Conrad, S., and Cortes, V. (2004). ‘If you look at …: Lexical bundles in university teaching and
textbooks.’ Applied Linguistics 25 (3), 371-405.
Durrant, P. (2014). ‘Discipline and level specificity in university students’ written vocabulary.’ Applied
Linguistics, 38(3), 238-256.
Hyland, K. (2008). ‘As can be seen: lexical bundles and disciplinary variation.’ English for Specific Purposes,
27, 4-21.
Hyland, K. & Tse, P. (2007). ‘Is there an "academic vocabulary"?’ TESOL Quarterly, 41 (2), 235-253.
Paribakht , T.S. & Wesche, M. B. (1993). Reading comprehension and second language development in a
comprehension-based ESL programme. TESL Canada Journal, 11 (1), 9-27.
Websites & Software
Antconc
BAWE
Byu-bnc
FLAX
Lextutor
Wordle
http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp/software.html
http://www.coventry.ac.uk/research/research-directory/art-design/british-academic-written-english-corpus-bawe/
Wordtree: http://wordtree.coventry.ac.uk/?BAWE
http://corpus.byu.edu/bnc
http://flax.nzdl.org/greenstone3/flax?a=fp&sa=library - includes BLaRC
http://www.lextutor.ca/conc/eng/ - includes bnc Law, and BLaRC (British Law Reports).
N-gram Phrase Extractor: http://lextutor.ca/n_gram/ .
Web Vocabprofile: http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/
Want to click on the links?
http://www.wordle.net/
A few law-specific resources
An electronic copy of this
handout is available from
http://jennykemp.org/
BAILII
http://www.bailii.org/
Justice
http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/glossary-of-terms (legal Latin, UK)
The Law Dictionary
http://thelawdictionary.org/ (Black’s Law Dictionary online version)
Legum
http://legum.org/ (Legal Latin, US)
Clickdocs
http://www.clickdocs.co.uk/glossary.htm
Cambridge Law Studio Exercises http://www.cambridgelawstudio.co.uk/test-yourself/exercise-1-contract-law-vocabulary/
Speak Legal English
http://speaklegalenglish.com/
Translegal
http://www.translegal.com/search
Further general info on teaching with concordances
McCarthy M & O'Dell F. (2007) From Corpus to Classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Reppen, R. (2010) Using corpora in the language classroom. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Sinclair, J. (2004) Corpora in the Classroom Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Tribble, C. & Jones, G. (1997) Concordances in the Classroom. Houston: Athelstan.
Dave Lee’s Website:
http://www.uow.edu.au/~dlee/CBLLinks.htm
Chris Tribble’s website: www.ctribble.co.uk
LLAS:
https://www.llas.ac.uk/materialsbank/mb063/eap/07/zs10208.htm
ICT4LT:
http://www.ict4lt.org/en/en_mod2-4.htm#activity1
elt-resourceful (blog): http://elt-resourceful.com/2012/09/26/some-user-friendly-concordance-ideas/
Scan this QR code for a pdf of my slides!
April 2015
JAK
N-grams from Jenny Kemp’s mini law report corpus (extracted using the Lextutor N-gram phrase extractor).
Concordance output for as (using AntConc) for C. Tomuschat The Legacy of Nuremberg. 2006, 830-844.
Jenny Kemp 2015
1
7
8
9
24
25
30
45
51
ar crimes and crimes against humanity. German objections criticizing crimes against peace
prosecutors and judges from the four main victorious Powers discredited the proceedings
given to ensuring a balanced composition that could not be objected to
list of offences under the jurisdiction of the IMT was also denounced
.
Thus, they lacked any moral legitimacy. Yet, they could not be challenged
garding war crimes, Nuremberg introduced no real innovation capable of being denounced
rfectly acceptable or a conduct that, although morally reprehensible, was not stigmatized
within their borders, the real impact of international law could be dismissed
followed the Nuremberg example. It would be particularly difficult to accept states
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
having no legal basis and, therefore, contradicting the principle nullum crimen sine
a \x91diktat\x92.6 The critical voices emphasized in particular the lack
7
representing \x91victors\x92 justice\x92. A short time later, at Tokyo,
8
having no solid foundation in international law. The Statute of the IMT 9
accomplices of a regime that had no better moral standing than Nazi
24
violating the proposition nullum crimen sine lege. Likewise, crimes against humani
unlawful. However, crimes against humanity have deep roots in the minds of 30
being marginal or even insignificant. Much too often, treaties had been ridiculed
defendants in criminal proceedings as well. Essentially, it would not be the
51
1
4
12
15
17
48
22
40
54
63
the international community with a view to avoiding any illegitimate bias. 1. Nuremberg
one of its parties, stating that wars are conducted not by states
an internationally wrongful act according to the classic scheme of international law
viability of this legal deduction. Without a new understanding of international law
. At Nuremberg, the German law of the Nazi period played no role
today included in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court both
nger. Article 7 explicitly provided that the \x91official position of defendants, whether
mitted by their fathers and forefathers. 5.
Developments after Nuremberg A. Aggression
course, it finds itself in a delicate situation. Although the United States
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
a Milestone To indict the leaders of Nazi Germany who had survived 4
abstract entities, but by human beings; therefore, if war was unlawful, prosecution
12
a system of rights and obligations among states. To this very date,
15
the basis of an international order predicated on the key concept of 17
a basis for prosecution. It was international law on which the IMT 48
a war crime and a crime against humanity.12 It is clear that
22
Heads of State or respon- sible officials in government departments, shall not 40
an International Crime The criticisms against the Nuremberg convictions that were based 54
a permanent member of the Security Council did not oppose the referral
63
25
45
21
23
68
92) the German populations not only from the countries where they had lived
leadership were held accountable at Nuremberg were at the same time adopted
power struggle. It is in particular the Darfur situation, which will serve
as
as
as
minorities (Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary), but also from the German territories east 21
an official policy vis-a' -vis the defeated people. It is above 23
a litmus test for the viability of the system of international criminal 68
14
made a dramatic leap, deriving the criminality of aggression from its character
as
an internationally wrongful act according to the classic scheme of international law
46
60
marginal or even insignificant. Much too often, treaties had been ridiculed just
as
good reasons militate for an understanding that views the two sentences just as
56
be valid today. In order to clarify the legal position, the practice
pieces of papers that could not resist the slightest wind of change.
46
reference to state responsibility in the classic sense, albeit in its most
60
as
it has developed since 1946 must be evaluated. As far as judicial pronouncements
18
contribute to strengthening the legitimacy of the trials. Even many Germans who,
as
a matter of principle, welcomed the trials felt uncomfortable on account of
36
, was criminal in accordance with internal law or national law.17 It seems
as
if the drafters of this clause had wanted to reject the essence
14
56
18
36
April 2015
JAK
5
6
10
11
13
19
26
27
29
31
32
33
34
37
39
41
42
50
59
German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, is referred to again and again by textbooks
reaction to the Nuremberg trial was rather ambivalent or even outright negative,
normal ingredients of inter- national customary law, namely practice and opinio juris
he Kellogg^Briand Pact of 1928,8 an international instrument which counted Germany
t
o inter-state relationships, but a totally different thing to acknowledge it
91deportation\x92 to the detriment of a civilian population was recognized both
nullum crimen sine lege. Likewise, crimes against humanity could be conceived of
), (2)(d); 8(2)(b)(viii). 13
Generally, the Soviet losses in human lives are estimated
that logic to apply, the legislative bodies must have established a conduct
such actions in which he participated and that are to be classified
reduction. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights still sets forth nullum crimen
by law before the offence was committed. This reservation could be interpreted
of law in its purest form. However, it could also be seen
legal order. Even the UN Charter lists the sovereign equality of states
agree to identify certain offences negatively affecting international society as a whole
State or respon- sible officials in government departments, shall not be considered
, together with the UN Charter, marked the inception of the international community
subject to international law. In legal doctrine, authors rightly qualify this status
the most perfect manner. The crime of aggression is mentioned in Article 5
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
giving an account of the slow emergence of international criminal law. But
5
described by Christoph Burchard in his article.5 First of all, it was
6
originally specified in the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice
one of its parties, stating that wars are conducted not by states 11
an offence entailing individual criminal responsibility. Most of the rules of internati
a war crime and a crime against humanity. However, at the same
19
an amalgamation of the core substance of criminal law to be encountered
26
surpassing 20 million. established in accordance with general principles of internat
punishable that beforehand was considered to be either perfectly acceptable or a
\x91crimes against humanity\x92 were perfectly lawful. The scope ratione materiae
a principle not subject to any restriction. However, the European Convention on
the scrupulous adherence to the rule of law in its purest form.
33
an implicit rejection of the Nuremberg principle to the effect that with
34
the first of the fundamental principles governing the mutual relationships among states
crimes susceptible of being prosecuted under the principle of universal jurisdiction.22
freeing them from responsibility or mitigating punishment\x92. This proposition has fou
a legal concept that is more than an academic construction. As long 42
\x91passive personality\x92 under international law.26 The Charter of the IMT
an offence falling within the competence of the ICC. But Article 5(2) makes
59
58
64
16
62
, the practice as it has developed since 1946 must be evaluated. As far
treatment of prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison had come to light.
and obligations among states. To this very date, doubts have been voiced
other European states. One may safely assume that agreement still exists today
as
As
as
as
judicial pronouncements are concerned, no one has ever been convicted of aggression 58
far as the composition of the bench is concerned, not only the
64
to the viability of this legal deduction. Without a new understanding of
16
to the necessity of prosecuting persons who are responsible for leading their 62
28
53
61
ing 20 million. established in accordance with general principles of international law
opportunity to join the other nations, would not only be politically disastrous,
sense, albeit in its most drastic form that entails particularly grave consequences
as
as
as
set out in Article 38 of the Statute of the PCIJ. Thus, the
28
shown by the aftermath of the unfortunate Treaty of Versailles. It would
they now can be found in the ILC Articles on responsibility of
61
38
47
49
55
20
35
43
2
52
67
tates could agree to identify certain offences negatively affecting international society
the integrity of which is essential for the peaceful existence of mankind
92s Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind25
can hardly dismiss those criticisms \xE7 although they were largely irrelevant inasmuch
war crime and a crime against humanity. However, at the same time
not committed when Germany ratified the ICCPR that contains the same clause
community as a legal concept that is more than an academic construction.
cused by the prosecution is possible before the International Criminal Court; prosecutors
would be particularly difficult to accept states as defendants in criminal proceedings
them three of the permanent members of the Security Council as well
as
as
as
as
as
as
As
as
as
as
a whole as crimes susceptible of being prosecuted under the principle of
38
a whole.23 Nuremberg translated the core values of the leading states into
47
follows (Article 2(1)): A crime against the peace and security of mankind ent
all of the defendants were found guilty on a considerable number of
55
the Statute was drafted, the Allied Powers agreed at Potsdam11 to expel (\
20
Article 7(2) of the ECHR (Article 15(2) ICCPR), due to the fact that the
35
long as governments were the exclusive masters of all occurrences within their
well as the judges of all existing judicial bodies are carefully selected 2
well. Essentially, it would not be the state concerned but its people 52
the five great \x91I\x92s \xE7 India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 67
10
13
27
29
31
32
37
39
41
50
53
49
43
Sample task:
in accordance with
as to whether
Use phrases from the box (right) to complete these concordance lines from the BAWE corpus.
There are two extra.
in the case of
with a view to
in the course of
with regard to
1
2
3
4
can be held jointly liable for torts committed by employees '
xxxx
employment,' serves to illustrate some of the salient points
or failing to pay attention, should be raised at the time and
xxxx
the proceedings if they were to form the basis of any complaint
the Act as a consumer, as she "...neither makes the contract
xxxx
business nor holds herself out as doing so." Slowe and Wheezy
report and considers the companies performance over that period,
yyyy
determining whether the accounts give a true and fair view,
Majesty's courts to recast settlements from time to time, merely
yyyy
tax avoidance even if they had the power to do so which, in
the most rigorous requirements of international legal norms
yyyy
exposing the violations of, and gaps in relation to, existing
as it appears on the deed that consigns the property to them,
zzzz
the Land Registration Act 1925, in order to bind purchasers
v. Palmer [1972] 1 W.L.R. 1286 at 1289. </p><p> which if made
zzzz
section 53(1)(b) of the Law of Property Act would provide a
necessitates an exploration of the rules of natural justice
zzzz
Lord Diplock's direction in the aforementioned GCHQ case.
1936] 3 All E.R. 483 </p><p> However, Lord Denning's reasoning
nnnn
Errington v. Errington and Woods initiated the development
Notably, Denning's argument is well reiterated, and developed,
nnnn
Binions v. Evans. Here, Mrs. Evans entered into an agreement
advocacy efforts to incorporate the concerns of all women. As
nnnn
the Land Act Co-ownership clause, the committee rightly accused
April 2015
JAK