This book is a first-stop introduction to corpus-based language research. It takes the reader systematically through the practical problems and benefits including the points to be reviewed before using computers, obtaining corpus material, the main analytical tools and the most important applications of computerised natural language processing. Each chapter offers guidance on programming where appropriate at a level suitable for readers with no prior experience, and provides exercises to help the reader to apply the principles covered. Case studies are used to show how the techniques are used in genuine research situations.