ABSTRACT
This chapter will introduce the basic processing tools used in corpus linguistics. Using practical examples, we will explain how to produce and interpret word lists and concordances. From our own experience, we know how daunting a prospect it can be to take your first steps towards using a corpus-based approach to learning or studying a language. It is for this reason that we start this chapter with some very simple techniques, which should tempt even the most technophobic learner. These will enable you to become familiar with the software and they may even give you some ideas about how to proceed with your investigation. We then move gradually towards outlining more complex processes and searches, which should challenge and stimulate all students, from the technology shy to the technologically literate.
