Emotion Detection in Literary Texts with a Corpus Linguistic Approach A Three-step Method

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Published: Dec 1, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14232/ncognito/2025.1-2.6-26
Keywords:
corpus linguistics, negative emotions, corpus, distant reading, emotion cluster, anger, shame

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Gábor Simon
ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Institute of Hungarian Linguistics and Finno-Ugric Studies
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5233-6313

Abstract

Narrative fiction is rich in emotions described by the narrator or other characters. These emotions can be carefully analysed using close reading techniques, but what methods can be used in a distant reading analysis? How can we detect and identify characters’ emotions in large corpora? Beyond the emotional vocabulary of a language, are there any reoccurring patterns of emotion description used by narrators in novels of different genres and ages? The paper overviews the basic problems and methodological proposals in corpus linguistic literature to provide a solid foundation for empirical analysis. Moreover, a pilot study is conducted using the ELTE Novel Corpus to analyze the emotions represented in Dezső Kosztolányi's novels and to determine how to detect them through corpus stylistic analysis. In the pilot analysis, I focus on two negative emotions: a basic emotion of anger and a more complex emotional stance of shame.

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How to Cite
Simon, G. (2025). Emotion Detection in Literary Texts with a Corpus Linguistic Approach: A Three-step Method. NCOGNITO - Papers in Cognitive Cultural Studies, 4(1-2), 6–26. https://doi.org/10.14232/ncognito/2025.1-2.6-26
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1-2 (2025): Moral Emotions in Literary Reception
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Articles

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