The methods used in corpus linguistics are very relevant in order to analyze how terminology works within texts. The first part of the paper puts forward arguments explaining how these methods are relevant. These methods focus on the lexicon, but also allow to study other phenomena related to linguistics, syntax, semantics or discourse. In fact, the main point in textual terminology is that what is studied is actual uses, since the analysis takes into account both linguistic and extra-linguistic contexts. Textual terminology is therefore relevant not only for defining terms, but also for achieving other kinds of aims. The paper presents how those methods may be used in a multidisciplinary situation dealing with the emergence of a new field, i.e. exobiology. We show how three types of clues (formal, quantitative and distributional) are used in order to identify polysemy, synonymy or loanwords. The approach is also relevant to identify whether these phenomena are deliberate, and when they can be a source of conflict. In such a study, the role of experts is crucial, not only in order to validate the results but also because they are end users of the results. Finally, we hope that by presenting them with a wide range of linguistic phenomena in a multidisciplinary corpus dealing with exobiology, we can contribute to the definition of this new field.