Genres included in The Helsinki Corpus

The genre or text type distribution of the samples is noted from Old English on, although even this variation becomes richer and more relevant in later sections. The majority of the texts are in prose, verse texts being included only when they have been of particular importance (e.g., Old English poetry and Chaucer’s writings). Circularity in the research results can be avoided since genre coding is based on extra-linguistic criteria and not on the linguistic features of the text. In our parameter system the genres are further grouped into larger, “prototypical” text categories that cut through the three main sections of the corpus: statutory, secular instruction, religious instruction, expository (= scientific texts), non-imaginative narration and imaginative narration.

Old English

Middle English

Early Modern English

Law

Law

Law

Document

Document

 

Handbk. Astronomy

Handbk. Astronomy

 

Handbk. Medicine

Handbk. Medicine

 

 

Handbk. Other

Handbk. Other

Science Astronomy

 

 

 

Science Medicine

Science Medicine

 

 

Science Other

 

 

Educat. treatise

Philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy

Homily

Homily

 

 

Sermon

Sermon

Rule

Rule

 

Relig. treatise

Relig. treatise

 

Preface/Epilogue

Preface/Epilogue

 

 

Proceed. Deposition

 

 

 

Proceed. Trial

History

History

History

Geography

 

 

Travelogue

Travelogue

Travelogue

 

 

Private diary

Biog. Saint's Life

Biog. Saint's Life

 

 

 

Biog. Auto

 

 

Biog. Other

Fiction

Fiction

Fiction

 

Romance

 

 

Drama Mystery

 

 

 

Drama Comedy

 

Private correspondence

Private correspondence

 

Non-private correspondence

Non-private correspondence

Bible

Bible

Bible

X

X

 

Abbreviations

Handbk. = handbook

Educat. = educational

Relig. = religious

Proceed. = proceeding

Biog. = biography

Biog. Auto = autobiography

Drama Mystery = mystery play