ATS2672 - Exploring texts with computers - 2018

In the past, our human limitations constrained the possibilities of working with large bodies of text. But today, technology makes it easy to analyse millions, even billions, of words of text quickly and reliably. This unit introduces students to the basic methods used in analysing large text collections and looks at their application in fields such as literary studies, linguistics, history and translation. Students will learn practical techniques for analysing text collections, will use that knowledge to explore texts relevant to their disciplines and will reflect on the types of knowledge which can be gained using these methods and their value within contemporary humanistic scholarship.

Upon completion of the unit, students will:

1. understand how texts are made accessible for computational analysis;
2. understand the nature of basic tools for the exploration and analysis of text corpora;
3. be able to apply such tools to specific analytic problems involving real data;
4. be able to interpret the analytic results and present them clearly both orally and in writing.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Digital humanities

Linguistics

Literary studies