lexical bundles in learner writing an analysis of formulaic language in the aless learner corpus文档.pdfVIP

Lexical Bundles in Learner Writing: An Analysis of Formulaic Language in the ALESS Learner Corpus David ALLEN Abstract Lexical bundles are empirically derived formulaic units of lan- guage which are register-specifi c and perform a variety of dis- course functions. Because these units of language contribute to the linguistic make up of specifi c registers, they can be important indicators for determining the success of language users within these discourse communities. Therefore, language learners need to assimilate appropriate use of lexical bundles in order to create effective and successful, register convergent discourse. The pres- ent research examines the type and frequency of lexical bundles in the ALESS Learner Corpus. Three analyses are performed focusing on accuracy, grammatical class and function of lexical bundles in learner writing, and the fi ndings are compared with other corpora in order to assess convergence of learner use with native speaker use and published academic writing. The fi nd- ings reveal a number of areas where pedagogical applications and further research are recommended. Introduction 1.1. Lexical Bundles Lexical bundles, defi ned as ‘the most frequently occurring lexical sequences in a register’ (Biber, Conrad Cortes, 2004; Biber, Johansson, Leech, Conrad, Finegan, 1999) have received increasing attention over the last ten years. Lexical bundles, also referred to as N-grams, often do not fi t with traditionally ideal- ized units of language, but may cross over a number of struc- 105 KOMABA JOURNAL OF ENGLISH EDUCATION tures e.g. In this study we, should be noted that. Nevertheless, because lexical bundles are discovered purely on the basis of their frequency within texts, they