Mapping AI's Integration into Linguistics- A Bibliometric and Thematic Analysis of ChatGPT's Influence

This study is a systematic and bibliometric analysis of research on artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, and large language models, focusing on the top fifty publications from high-impact linguistics journals indexed in Web of Science and Scopus. This study aims to identify and analyze the historical significance of ChatGPT's release and its broader influence on linguistic research as a field. Through scientific mapping we examine research publications from before and after the launch of ChatGPT, analyzing how it presents in choice of topics and methodologies. The study presents a thematic review of articles published up to March 2024, categorizing them into major themes such as editorials, survey studies, translation research, and assessment methodologies. Through the use of Bibliometrix software, the research analyzes the geographical networks of articles, authorship collaborations, citations, and recurring keywords. The findings reveal the growing influence of artificial intelligence, particularly ChatGPT, on various subfields of linguistics, and demonstrate how AI technologies are being integrated into areas such as translation, language assessment, and educational practices. By mapping the trajectory of AI's integration into linguistics, the study offers insights into future research directions, emphasizing the need to continuously assess AI's impact on educational and linguistic practices.