A linguistic corpus is a large and structured set of texts used for linguistic research and analysis. These texts can include written documents, spoken language transcripts, or any other form of communication. Researchers use corpora to study language patterns, vocabulary, grammar, and usage in different contexts, helping to understand how language functions in real life. Corpora can be specialized, focusing on specific genres like literature, news articles, or conversational speech, or they can be general, encompassing a wide range of texts. Tools and software are often employed to analyze these corpora, making it easier to identify trends and draw conclusions about language use over time.