Research Article
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The use of lexical bundles and the definite article ‘the’: A core expression analysis

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 269 - 286, 06.10.2018

Kutay Uzun

https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.441596

Abstract

Even though the learning and use of formulaic
language is an important aspect of language learning, the study of lexical
bundles, which are within the scope of formulaic language, appears to be an
under-researched area in the domain of language learning and teaching. In this
respect, the present study aimed to contribute to the literature by providing
an account of the use of lexical bundles which included the definite article ‘the’ in a corpus of 160 literary
analysis essays written by 2nd year English Language Teaching
students throughout a compulsorily taken English Literature course at a Turkish
university. The secondary aim of the study was to test the functionality of the
Core Expression Analysis method proposed by Shin et al. (2018) for the
detection of attempted but erroneous lexical bundles which were typically left
undetected by condardance analysis software since they deviated from standard
forms. Lastly, the study aimed to perform error analysis on the lexical bundles
which involved inaccurate uses of the definite article ‘the’. The results showed that the use of the definite article ‘the’ within the corpus were generally
accurate and all of the inaccurate uses were due to omission errors. The
findings also confirmed the functionality of Shin et al.’s (2018) Core
Expression Analysis method to analyse attempted lexical bundles through the
analysis of core expressions.

Keywords

Lexical Bundles Definite Article Error Analysis Core Expression Literary Analysis Essay

References

  • Ädel, A., & Erman, B. (2012). Recurrent word combinations in academic writing by native and non-native speakers of English: A lexical bundles approach. English for Specific Purposes, 31, 81-92.
  • Anthony, L. (2018). AntConc (Version 3.5.7) [Computer Software]. Tokyo, Japan: Waseda University. Retrieved from http://www.laurenceanthony.net/software on 25.06.2018.
  • Amuzie, G., & Spinner, P. (2013). Korean EFL learners' indefinite article use with four types of abstract nouns. Applied Linguistics, 34(4), 415-434.
  • Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Cortes, V. (2004). If you look at…:Lexical bundles in university teaching and textbooks. Applied Linguistics, 25(3), 371–405.
  • Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman grammar of spoken and written English. London: Longman.
  • Canale M., Swain M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1-47.
  • Chrabascz, A., & Jiang, N. (2014). The role of the native language in the use of the English nongeneric definite article by L2 learners: A cross-linguistic comparison. Second Language Research, 30(3), 351-379. doi: 10.1177/0267658313493432
  • Çimen, Ş. S. (2013). Acquisition of English article system by turkish learners in an EFL setting. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 31, 90-105.
  • Conklin, K., & Schmitt, N. (2008). Formulaic sequences: Are they processed more quickly than nonformulaic language by native and nonnative speakers? Applied Linguistics, 29(1), 72-89.
  • Cortes, V. (2004). Lexical bundles in published and student disciplinary writing: Examples from history and biology. English for Specific Purposes, 23, 397-423.
  • Cortes, V. (2013). The purpose of this study is to: Connecting lexical bundles and moves in research article introductions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 33-43.
  • Cresswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Pearson Education.
  • Dağdeviren, G. (2010). Use of English articles by speakers of Turkish in the EFL setting. Novitas-ROYAL, 4(2), 242-250.
  • Dikilitaş, K., & Altay, M. (2011). Acquisition sequence of four categories of non-generic use of the English definite article the by Turkish speakers. Novitas-ROYAL, 5(2), 183-198.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Dulay, H., Burt, M., & Krashen, S. D. (1982). Language two. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Durrant, P. (2017). Lexical bundles and disciplinary variation in university students’ writing: Mapping the territories. Applied Linguistics, 38(2), 165–193.
  • Ellis, N. C. (2012). Formulaic language and second language acquisition: Zipf and the phrasal teddy bear. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 32 (2012), 17-44.
  • Flowerdew, L. (2015). Corpus-based research and pedagogy in EAP: From lexis to genre. Language Teaching, 48(1), 99-116. doi:10.1017/S0261444813000037
  • García Mayo, M. (2009). Article choice in L2 English by Spanish speakers: Evidence for full transfer. In M. García Mayo & R. Hawkins (Eds.), Second language acquisition of articles (pp. 13–35). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Güngör, F., & Uysal, H. H. (2016). A comparative analysis of lexical bundles used by native and non-native scholars. English Language Teaching, 9(6), 176-188. doi: 10.5539/elt.v9n6p176
  • Huang, K. (2015). More does not mean better: Frequency and accuracy analysis of lexical bundles in Chinese EFL learners' essay writing. System, 53, 13-23. Hyland K. (2007). Genre pedagogy: language, literacy and L2 writing instruction. Journal of Second Language Writing, 16, 148-164.
  • Hyland, K. (2008). As can be seen: Lexical bundles and disciplinary variation. English for Specific Purposes, 27(1), 4–21.
  • Kılıç, S. Z. (2015). The use of formulaic language by English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in writing proficiency exams. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Koç, D. K. (2015). The non-generic use of the definite article the in writing by Turkish learners of English. H. U. Journal of Education, 30(2), 56-68.
  • Li, J., & Schmitt, N. (2009). The acquisition of lexical phrases in academic writing: A longitudinal case study. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(2), 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2009.02.001
  • Master, P. (2002). Information structure and English article pedagogy. System, 30, 331–48.
  • McCauley, S. M., & Christiansen, M. H. (2014). Acquiring formulaic language: A computational model. The Mental Lexicon, 9(3), 419-436.
  • Mirici & Göksu (2016). Influence of residence in English speaking countries on the effective use of the English routine formulas. In İ. H. Mirici, İ. H. Erten, H. Öz, & I. Vodopija-Krstanović (eds.), Research papers on teaching English as an additional language (pp. 17-30). Rijeka, Croatia: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka.
  • Öztürk, Y., & Köse, G. D. (2016). Turkish and native English academic writers: Use of lexical bundles. Journal of language and linguistic studies, 12(1), 149-165.
  • Pan, F., & Hu, R. (2017). David Wood, Fundamentals of formulaic language: An introduction. London: Bloomsbury, 2015. Pp. vii 198. Journal of Linguistics, 53(3), 693-697. doi:10.1017/S0022226717000081
  • Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. (2013). Longman dictionary of language teaching & applied linguistics (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Shin, Y. (2012). A new look at determiners in early grammar: Phrasal quantifiers. Language Research, 48(3), 573-608.
  • Shin, Y. K., & Kim, Y. (2017). Using lexical bundles to teach articles to L2 English learners of different proficiencies. System, 69, 79-91.
  • Shin, Y. K., Cortes, V., & Yoo, I. W. (2018). Using lexical bundles as a tool to analyze definite article use in L2 academic writing: An exploratory study. Journal of Second Language Writing, 39(March 2018), 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2017.09.004
  • Staples, S., Egber, J., Biber, D., & McClair, A. (2013). Formulaic sequences and EAP writing development: Lexical bundles in the TOEFL iBT writing section. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 214-225.
  • Taşçı, S., & Ataç, B. A. (2018). Written grammatical errors of turkish adult learners of English: An analysis. Journal of International Social Sciences Education, 4(1), 1-13.
  • Üstünbaş, Ü. (2014). The use of formulaic language by English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in oral proficiency exams. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Wei, L., & Ying, H. (2011).On the role of formulaic sequences in second language acquisition. US-China Foreign Language, 9(11), 708-713.
  • Yalçın, I. (2010). Turkish speaking first year and third year ELT students’ syntactic errors in their argumentative essays. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
  • Zhao, H., & Macwhinney, B. (2018). The instructed learning of form-function mappings in the English article system. The Modern Language Journal, 102(1), 99-119. doi: 10.1111/modl.124490026-7902/18/99–119

Year 2018, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 269 - 286, 06.10.2018

Kutay Uzun

https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.441596

Abstract

References

  • Ädel, A., & Erman, B. (2012). Recurrent word combinations in academic writing by native and non-native speakers of English: A lexical bundles approach. English for Specific Purposes, 31, 81-92.
  • Anthony, L. (2018). AntConc (Version 3.5.7) [Computer Software]. Tokyo, Japan: Waseda University. Retrieved from http://www.laurenceanthony.net/software on 25.06.2018.
  • Amuzie, G., & Spinner, P. (2013). Korean EFL learners' indefinite article use with four types of abstract nouns. Applied Linguistics, 34(4), 415-434.
  • Biber, D., Conrad, S., & Cortes, V. (2004). If you look at…:Lexical bundles in university teaching and textbooks. Applied Linguistics, 25(3), 371–405.
  • Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., & Finegan, E. (1999). Longman grammar of spoken and written English. London: Longman.
  • Canale M., Swain M. (1980). Theoretical bases of communicative approaches to second language teaching and testing. Applied Linguistics, 1, 1-47.
  • Chrabascz, A., & Jiang, N. (2014). The role of the native language in the use of the English nongeneric definite article by L2 learners: A cross-linguistic comparison. Second Language Research, 30(3), 351-379. doi: 10.1177/0267658313493432
  • Çimen, Ş. S. (2013). Acquisition of English article system by turkish learners in an EFL setting. Muğla Sıtkı Koçman Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 31, 90-105.
  • Conklin, K., & Schmitt, N. (2008). Formulaic sequences: Are they processed more quickly than nonformulaic language by native and nonnative speakers? Applied Linguistics, 29(1), 72-89.
  • Cortes, V. (2004). Lexical bundles in published and student disciplinary writing: Examples from history and biology. English for Specific Purposes, 23, 397-423.
  • Cortes, V. (2013). The purpose of this study is to: Connecting lexical bundles and moves in research article introductions. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 33-43.
  • Cresswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research. Upper Saddle Creek, NJ: Pearson Education.
  • Dağdeviren, G. (2010). Use of English articles by speakers of Turkish in the EFL setting. Novitas-ROYAL, 4(2), 242-250.
  • Dikilitaş, K., & Altay, M. (2011). Acquisition sequence of four categories of non-generic use of the English definite article the by Turkish speakers. Novitas-ROYAL, 5(2), 183-198.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research methods in applied linguistics. New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Dulay, H., Burt, M., & Krashen, S. D. (1982). Language two. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Durrant, P. (2017). Lexical bundles and disciplinary variation in university students’ writing: Mapping the territories. Applied Linguistics, 38(2), 165–193.
  • Ellis, N. C. (2012). Formulaic language and second language acquisition: Zipf and the phrasal teddy bear. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 32 (2012), 17-44.
  • Flowerdew, L. (2015). Corpus-based research and pedagogy in EAP: From lexis to genre. Language Teaching, 48(1), 99-116. doi:10.1017/S0261444813000037
  • García Mayo, M. (2009). Article choice in L2 English by Spanish speakers: Evidence for full transfer. In M. García Mayo & R. Hawkins (Eds.), Second language acquisition of articles (pp. 13–35). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Güngör, F., & Uysal, H. H. (2016). A comparative analysis of lexical bundles used by native and non-native scholars. English Language Teaching, 9(6), 176-188. doi: 10.5539/elt.v9n6p176
  • Huang, K. (2015). More does not mean better: Frequency and accuracy analysis of lexical bundles in Chinese EFL learners' essay writing. System, 53, 13-23. Hyland K. (2007). Genre pedagogy: language, literacy and L2 writing instruction. Journal of Second Language Writing, 16, 148-164.
  • Hyland, K. (2008). As can be seen: Lexical bundles and disciplinary variation. English for Specific Purposes, 27(1), 4–21.
  • Kılıç, S. Z. (2015). The use of formulaic language by English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in writing proficiency exams. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Koç, D. K. (2015). The non-generic use of the definite article the in writing by Turkish learners of English. H. U. Journal of Education, 30(2), 56-68.
  • Li, J., & Schmitt, N. (2009). The acquisition of lexical phrases in academic writing: A longitudinal case study. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18(2), 85-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2009.02.001
  • Master, P. (2002). Information structure and English article pedagogy. System, 30, 331–48.
  • McCauley, S. M., & Christiansen, M. H. (2014). Acquiring formulaic language: A computational model. The Mental Lexicon, 9(3), 419-436.
  • Mirici & Göksu (2016). Influence of residence in English speaking countries on the effective use of the English routine formulas. In İ. H. Mirici, İ. H. Erten, H. Öz, & I. Vodopija-Krstanović (eds.), Research papers on teaching English as an additional language (pp. 17-30). Rijeka, Croatia: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Rijeka.
  • Öztürk, Y., & Köse, G. D. (2016). Turkish and native English academic writers: Use of lexical bundles. Journal of language and linguistic studies, 12(1), 149-165.
  • Pan, F., & Hu, R. (2017). David Wood, Fundamentals of formulaic language: An introduction. London: Bloomsbury, 2015. Pp. vii 198. Journal of Linguistics, 53(3), 693-697. doi:10.1017/S0022226717000081
  • Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. (2013). Longman dictionary of language teaching & applied linguistics (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
  • Shin, Y. (2012). A new look at determiners in early grammar: Phrasal quantifiers. Language Research, 48(3), 573-608.
  • Shin, Y. K., & Kim, Y. (2017). Using lexical bundles to teach articles to L2 English learners of different proficiencies. System, 69, 79-91.
  • Shin, Y. K., Cortes, V., & Yoo, I. W. (2018). Using lexical bundles as a tool to analyze definite article use in L2 academic writing: An exploratory study. Journal of Second Language Writing, 39(March 2018), 29-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2017.09.004
  • Staples, S., Egber, J., Biber, D., & McClair, A. (2013). Formulaic sequences and EAP writing development: Lexical bundles in the TOEFL iBT writing section. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 214-225.
  • Taşçı, S., & Ataç, B. A. (2018). Written grammatical errors of turkish adult learners of English: An analysis. Journal of International Social Sciences Education, 4(1), 1-13.
  • Üstünbaş, Ü. (2014). The use of formulaic language by English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in oral proficiency exams. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.
  • Wei, L., & Ying, H. (2011).On the role of formulaic sequences in second language acquisition. US-China Foreign Language, 9(11), 708-713.
  • Yalçın, I. (2010). Turkish speaking first year and third year ELT students’ syntactic errors in their argumentative essays. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Anadolu University, Eskişehir, Turkey.
  • Zhao, H., & Macwhinney, B. (2018). The instructed learning of form-function mappings in the English article system. The Modern Language Journal, 102(1), 99-119. doi: 10.1111/modl.124490026-7902/18/99–119
There are 41 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Kutay Uzun

Publication Date October 6, 2018
Published in Issue Year 2018Volume: 7 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Uzun, K. (2018). The use of lexical bundles and the definite article ‘the’: A core expression analysis. Cumhuriyet Uluslararası Eğitim Dergisi, 7(3), 269-286. https://doi.org/10.30703/cije.441596
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