Big Data and its consequences for Neology

In this article, we write as an English corpus linguist and lexicologist, and in the light of our experience in developing automated systems for the study of lexical patterning within the Research and Development Unit for English Studies (henceforth RDUES). Our account begins with the state of the art with regard to the theme of this issue of Neologica, namely “La disponibilité actuelle de très grands corpus (qui) ouvre des voies nouvelles pour l’étude de la néologie, notamment par le biais de programmes d’extraction automatique et de classification des différents néologismes” (FRAMONDE, 13 février 2015). We then move on to identify some of the opportunities and challenges presented to linguistic researchers of today by these ever growing very large corpora, or “Big Data.” The article will first highlight their benefits over smaller corpora, then examining the advantages of diachronic corpora, for studying neology. It will then consider some challenges that Big Data throws up, both technological, practical and theoretical. The article concludes with an assessment of the consequences of Big Data for neologists and corpus linguists as it currently stands.