computational linguistics: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1-C2)Technical/Academic
Quick answer
What does “computational linguistics” mean?
The scientific study of language using computational methods and algorithms to model, process, and analyze linguistic data.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The scientific study of language using computational methods and algorithms to model, process, and analyze linguistic data.
An interdisciplinary field at the intersection of computer science, artificial intelligence, and linguistics, concerned with the computational modeling of natural language, including tasks like speech recognition, machine translation, natural language understanding, and information retrieval.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is standardized internationally within the field.
Connotations
Identical technical and academic connotations in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both regional varieties, confined to academic, research, and technology sectors.
Grammar
How to Use “computational linguistics” in a Sentence
[Subject: researcher/institution] + [Verb: studies/practices/advances] + computational linguistics.Computational linguistics + [Verb: deals with/concerns/is concerned with] + [Object: language processing/modeling].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “computational linguistics” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- There is no direct verb form. One 'researches computational linguistics' or 'works in computational linguistics'.
American English
- There is no direct verb form. One 'does computational linguistics' or 'specializes in computational linguistics'.
adverb
British English
- The problem was approached computational-linguistically. (Extremely rare, highly technical)
American English
- The analysis was done computational-linguistically. (Extremely rare, highly technical)
adjective
British English
- She took a computational linguistics module.
- The computational linguistics perspective offers new insights.
American English
- He has a computational linguistics background.
- This is a core computational linguistics problem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tech companies focused on AI, speech tech, or machine translation, where it denotes a core R&D area.
Academic
Primary context. Refers to a university department, research field, course of study, or academic journal.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used in conversations about highly specialized education or careers.
Technical
Common in computer science, AI research, and linguistics publications, referring to the methodologies and theories of the field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “computational linguistics”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “computational linguistics”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “computational linguistics”
- Using it as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'three computational linguistics' – incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'computer linguistics,' which is a less standard term.
- Using it to refer to simply using a computer for linguistic work rather than the specific interdisciplinary science.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related and often used interchangeably in industry. Strictly, computational linguistics is the broader scientific discipline studying language computationally, while NLP often refers to the engineering applications and technologies derived from it.
A strong foundation in both linguistics (syntax, semantics) and computer science (algorithms, programming, statistics/machine learning) is typically required.
Applications include: speech recognition (Siri, Alexa), machine translation (Google Translate), spell and grammar checkers, search engines, and sentiment analysis tools.
Yes, graduates are highly sought after in the tech industry for roles such as NLP Engineer, Computational Linguist, AI Research Scientist, and Data Scientist in companies working on language-related technologies.
The scientific study of language using computational methods and algorithms to model, process, and analyze linguistic data.
Computational linguistics is usually technical/academic in register.
Computational linguistics: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒm.pjuːˌteɪ.ʃən.əl lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːm.pjuːˌteɪ.ʃən.əl lɪŋˈɡwɪs.tɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “There is no specific idiom for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: COMPUTATIONAL (using computers) + LINGUISTICS (study of language) = using computers to study and process language.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS DATA / LANGUAGE IS CODE. The field metaphorically treats human language as structured data to be decoded, parsed, and processed by algorithms.
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is CLOSEST in meaning to 'computational linguistics' in a tech industry context?