Corpus linguistics and AI: #LancsBox X in the context of emerging technologies

This position paper explores how corpus linguistics can respond to advancements in AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs). Drawing on theoretical debates about meaning creation, it examines two models of human-computer interaction, namely Turing’s imitation game, which suggests functional equivalence between successful computer and human communication, and Searle’s Chinese room argument, which critiques the idea of genuine understanding by machines. These discussions emphasize the distinction between form and meaning, with meaning grounded in social context and human interaction. The paper then introduces #LancsBox X, a free software tool developed as a response to the challenges of emerging technologies. Designed for efficiency and user experience, #LancsBox X provides advanced functionalities for corpus analysis, including concordancing, collocation analysis and visualization, keyword identification and web scraping. By emphasizing context in language use, the tool demonstrates how computational methods can support linguistic research while addressing the evolving demands of big data analysis.