Literary Mathematics: Quantitative Theory for Textual Studies

Quantitative methods for the study of textual data offer powerful tools for historical inquiry and can provide unexpected perspectives on theoretical issues in literary studies. Michael Gavin's book "Literary Mathematics" showcases case studies from the Early English Books Online corpus that demonstrate the effectiveness of corpus-based methods in revealing historical periodization, parsing historical concepts, and analyzing early modern discourse. Gavin challenges readers to consider why these methods work and asks whether they should inspire humanists to reconsider fundamental theoretical assumptions about textuality and meaning. By embracing the expressive power of mathematics, scholars can add new dimensions to digital humanities research and find new connections with the social sciences.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Quantitative methods have gained increasing popularity in the humanities and social sciences, leading to a significant shift in the study of textual data. This research represents a remarkable event in the long history of textuality, as the corpus has emerged as a major genre of cultural and scientific knowledge. In his book "Literary Mathematics," Michael Gavin explores the implications of this development, highlighting how quantitative approaches offer powerful tools for historical inquiry and provide unexpected insights into theoretical issues in literary studies.

The book is designed to be accessible to students and provides a clear and concise introduction to quantitative methods for the study of textual data. Gavin employs case studies drawn from the Early English Books Online corpus to demonstrate the practical applications of these methods. Through these case studies, he showcases how a copublication network of printers and authors reveals an accurate picture of historical periodization, how a vector-space semantic model parses historical concepts with remarkable detail, and how a geospatial analysis of early modern discourse offers a panoramic glimpse into the period's notion of world geography.

Gavin challenges readers to consider the effectiveness of corpus-based methods and asks whether the successes of formal modeling should inspire humanists to reconsider fundamental theoretical assumptions about textuality and meaning. He argues that by embracing the expressive power of mathematics, scholars can add new dimensions to digital humanities research and forge new connections with the social sciences.

In conclusion, "Literary Mathematics" is a valuable resource for students and scholars interested in exploring the intersection of mathematics and literary studies. Gavin's book provides a comprehensive introduction to quantitative methods, showcases their practical applications, and encourages readers to rethink traditional approaches to text analysis. By embracing the power of mathematics, scholars can expand the horizons of digital humanities research and make new discoveries that shed light on the complex nature of textual data.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503632820