What fifty-one years of Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence research tell us about their correlation: A scientometric analysis

TL;DR

This scientometric analysis over 51 years reveals the evolving and strengthening relationship between linguistics and AI, highlighting key research trends, hotspots, and the impact of deep learning models like ChatGPT.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive visualization and synthesis of the intellectual landscape of linguistics and AI research from 1974 to 2024, identifying emerging issues and hotspots.

Findings

Significant increase in publications since the 1980s and 1990s.

Emergence of deep learning models like ChatGPT as hotspots.

Identification of key research issues such as NLP and cross-sectional studies.

Abstract

There is a strong correlation between linguistics and artificial intelligence (AI), best manifested by deep learning language models. This study provides a thorough scientometric analysis of this correlation, synthesizing the intellectual production over 51 years, from 1974 to 2024. Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was the data source. The data collected were analyzed by two powerful software, viz., CiteSpace and VOSviewer, through which mapping visualizations of the intellectual landscape, trending issues and (re)emerging hotspots were generated. The results indicate that in the 1980s and 1990s, linguistics and AI (AIL) research was not robust, characterized by unstable publication over time. It has, however, witnessed a remarkable increase of publication since then, reaching 1478 articles in 2023, and 546 articles in January-March timespan in 2024, involving emerging issues including Natural language processing, Cross-sectional study, Using bidirectional encoder representation, and Using ChatGPT and hotspots such as Novice programmer, Prioritization, and Artificial intelligence, addressing new horizons, new topics, and launching new applications and powerful deep learning language models including ChatGPT. It concludes that linguistics and AI correlation is established at several levels, research centers, journals, and countries shaping AIL knowledge production and reshaping its future frontiers.