Ronald Carter

Role(s): Professor, Academic

Current research

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My main research interests are in the broad field of applied linguistics.  This includes work on corpus and computational linguistics, discourse-based grammar, English vocabulary and the interface between language and literature.  In terms of literature and language, my main interest is in the relationship between language and creativity and I have recently completed a book on this topic with particular reference to spoken discourse. I am currently working on two ESRC-funded e-social science projects researching the multi-modal relationship between language and gesture and on a national AHRC-funded project into the applications of humanities research to business contexts. I also have current research interests in the discourses of professional and media communication using corpus-linguistic analytical tools. I am advisor to Routledge Publishers, London in English language studies, applied linguistics and English language teaching and learning.

I have written, co-authored, edited and co-edited over forty books and one hundred articles in these fields. The most current publication is The Cambridge Grammar of English: A Comprehensive Guide to Spoken and Written Grammar and Usage (CUP, 2006) (co-written with Michael McCarthy) and based on a 10 year research programme involving the development of extensive computer-readable corpora of spoken and written English. The book won the 2007 British Council English Language Innovation Award.

Within the context of Education I am currently working on the development of spoken competence in the National Curriculum for England and Wales on projects with QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) and have recently been part-seconded to the DfES (UK MInistry of Education) as a linguistic advisor for adult literacy and English for speakers of other languages.  I find myself working abroad a lot and have lectured in over forty countries world-wide, often on consultancies with governments overseas or in conjunction with the British Council. I also have particular interests in widening participation, especially with minority ethnic groups. I co-convene an interdisciplinary research group in language and health communication involving co-researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and the Schools of Sociology and Social Policy, Pharmacy and Nursing and in connection with the ESRC multi-modal research projects work with research teams in Psychology and Computer Science and have published several co-authored journal articles in these fields in the past three years. 

Expertise summary

BA (Leeds) MA PhD (Birmingham) MIL FRSA, AcLSS
Areas of expertise - linguistics and literary criticism; applied linguistics and language education; healthcare communication; the teaching of English in schools; grammar, discourse and corpus linguistics.

I have been at Nottingham University since 1979 and have been Director of the Centre for English Language Education and Head of the School of English Studies. I am currently Director of the Humanities Research Centre, chair the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Strategy Group and am a member of University Research Committee.

I am a member of the English Panel for the 2008 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise), with particular responsibility for English language and applied linguistics. I am on the Editorial Boards of the journals Applied Linguistics, Journal of Applied Linguistics, Language and Literature, Language Awareness and RELC Journal, and was recently an Editorial Advisor for the Encarta World English Dictionary. I am on the Advisory Board of IATEFL. I was chair of BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics) from 2003-2006 and was recently elected a fellow of the British Academy for Social Sciences.    

Lay summary

I have interests in contemporary uses and usage of English, most specifically in grammar, vocabulary and the spoken language. I also have long-standing research interests in the interfaces between English language and literature, in the teaching of English in schools and in the teaching and learning of English as a second or foreign language.