DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Potential of L1 and L2 Corpora to Identify Target Lexical Bundles for Argumentative Essay Writing

  • Received : 2024.06.11
  • Accepted : 2024.08.10
  • Published : 2024.08.31

Abstract

This study aimed to identify target lexical bundles (e.g., on the other hand, at the same time) for argumentative essay writing and rank them in order of teaching priority for Japanese learners. Despite significant functional roles of lexical bundles in academic writing, the inclusion of lexical bundles in argumentative writing had been underexplored. Since argumentative writing skills help undergraduate students prepare for their academic careers (e.g., writing papers), the lexical bundles under this genre deserve more attention. This study first extracted 78 target bundles from L1 argumentative essay corpora (International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English: ICNALE and Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays: LOCNESS). The study then classified the bundles according to their discourse functions and semantic transparency to estimate the learnability for Japanese learners in L2 compatible corpora with the ICNALE. The results showed that learners had difficulty using the bundles with referential functions (e.g., in the form of) and semantic opaqueness (e.g., when it comes to), suggesting that the bundles in these two categories should be prioritized among the 78 bundles.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by JST SPRING (grant number JPMJSP2150).

References

  1. Ackermann, K., & Chen, Y. H. (2013). Developing the academic collocation list (ACL): A corpus-driven and expert-judged approach. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12(4), 235-247.
  2. Appel, R., & Murray, L. (2020). L1 differences in L2 English academic writing: A lexical bundles analysis. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 46, 1-15.
  3. Barghamadi, M., Rogers, J., Arciuli, J., & Muller, A. (2023). The use of semantic transparency and L1-L2 congruency as multi-word units selection criteria. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(2), 723-740.
  4. Biber, D., & Barbieri, F. (2007). Lexical bundles in university spoken and written registers. English for Specific Purposes, 26, 263-286.
  5. Biber, D., S, Conrad., & Cortes, V. (2004). "If you look at ...": Lexical bundles in university teaching and textbooks. Applied Linguistics, 25, 371-405.
  6. Boers, F., & Lindstromberg, S. (2009). Optimizing a Lexical Approach to Instructed Second Language Acquisition. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  7. Bychkovska, T., & Lee, J. J. (2017). At the same time: Lexical bundles in L1 and L2 university student argumentative writing. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 30, 38-52.
  8. Byrd, P., & Coxhead, A. (2010). On the other hand: Lexical bundles in academic writing and in the teaching of EAP. University of Sydney Papers in TESOL, 5(5), 31-64.
  9. Chen, Y. H., & Baker, P. (2010). Lexical bundles in L1 and L2 academic writing. Language Learning and Technology, 14(2), 30-49.
  10. Chen, Y. H., & Baker, P. (2016). Investigating criterial discourse features across second language development: Lexical bundles in rated learner essays, CEFR B1, B2 and C1. Applied Linguistics, 37(6), 849-880.
  11. Conklin, K., & Schmitt, S. (2008). Formulaic Sequences: Are they processed more quickly than nonformulaic language by native and nonnative speakers? Applied Linguistics, 29(1), 72-89.
  12. Cortes, V. (2004). Lexical bundles in published and student disciplinary writing: Examples from history and biology. English for Specific Purposes, 23, 397-423.
  13. Council of Europe. (2001). The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  14. Gardner, S., Nesi, H., & Biber, D. (2018). Discipline, level, genre: Integrating situational perspectives in a new MD analysis of university student writing. Applied Linguistics, 40(4), 646-674.
  15. Granger, S. (1998). The computer learner corpus: A versatile new source of data for SLA research. In Granger, S. (Ed.), Learner English on Computer. Addison Wesley Longman: London & New York, 3-18.
  16. Granger, S. (2017). Academic phraseology: A key ingredient in successful L2 academic literacy. In Vatvedt Fjeld, R., Hagen, K., Henriksen, B., Johannson, S. Olsen, S., & Prentice, J. (Eds.), Academic Language in a Nordic Setting: Linguistic and Educational Perspectives. Oslo Studies in Language, 9(3), 9-27.
  17. Granger, S. (2019). Formulaic sequences in learner corpora: Collocations and lexical bundles. In Siyanova-Chanturia, A., & Pellicer-Sanchez, A. (Eds.). (2019). Understanding Formulaic Language: A second Language Acquisition Perspective (pp. 228-245. New York, NY: Routledge.
  18. Granger, S., Dupont, M., Meunier, F., Naets, H. & Paquot, M. (2020). The International Corpus of Learner English. Version 3. Louvainla-Neuve: Presses universitaires de Louvain.
  19. Harrison, J., & Barker, F. (2015). English Profile in Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  20. Hyland, K. (2008). As can be seen: Lexical bundles and disciplinary variation. English for Specific Purposes, 27(1), 4-21.
  21. Ishikawa, S. (2011). Phraseology overused and underused by Japanese learners of English. In Yagi, K., Kanzaki, K., & Inoue, A. (Eds.). Phraseology, Corpus Linguistics and Lexicography: Papers from Phraseology 2009 in Japan (pp.82-93). Hyogo: Kwansei Gakuin University Press.
  22. Ishikawa, S. (2023). The ICNALE Guide: An Introduction to a Learner Corpus Study on Asian Learners' L2 English. London: Routledge.
  23. Johnson, D. (2018). Teaching English for academic purposes in New Zealand: Making sense of genre-based instruction. In Wong, L.T., & Wong, Heidi. W. L. (Eds.), Teaching and Learning English for Academic Purposes: Current Research and Practices (pp. 239-253). New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
  24. Jukneviciene, R. (2009). Lexical bundles in learner language: Lithuanian learners vs. native speakers. Kalbotyra, 61(3), 61-72.
  25. Khodadady, E., & Shamsaee, S. (2012). Formulaic sequences and their relationship with speaking and listening abilities. English Language Teaching, 5(2), 39-49.
  26. Laufer, B. (2021). Formulaic sequences and second language learning. In Szudarski, P., & Barclay, S. (Eds.), Vocabulary Theory, Patterning and Teaching (pp. 89-98). Bristol: Mutilingual Matters.
  27. Liu, C. Y., & Chen, H. J. H. (2020). Analyzing the functions of lexical bundles in undergraduate academic lectures for pedagogical use. English for Specific Purposes, 58, 122-137.
  28. Martinez, R. (2013). A framework for the inclusion of multi-word expressions in ELT. ELT Journal, 67(2), 184-198.
  29. Nam, D. (2017). Functional distribution of lexical bundle in native and non-native students' argumentative writing. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 14(4), 703-716.
  30. Nam, D., & Park, K. (2020). Lexical bundles as criterial features in L2 academic writing: structural differences between CEFR A2 and B2 essays. Multimedia-Assisted Language Learning, 23(3), 68-86.
  31. Nesi, H., & Matheson, N., & Basturkmen, H. (2017). University literature essays in the UK, New Zealand and the USA: Implications for EAP. New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics, 23(2), 25-38.
  32. Omidian, T., Siyanova- Chanturia, A., & Durrant, P. (2021). Predicting parameters of variation in the use of academic multiword expressions in university student writing. In Szudarski, P., & Barclay, S. (Eds.), Vocabulary Theory, Patterning and Teaching (pp. 141-166). Bristol: Mutilingual Matters.
  33. Pawley, A., & Syder, F. H. (1983). Two puzzles for linguistic theory: Nativelike selection and nativelike fluency. In Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. W. (Eds.), Language and Communication (pp. 191-225). London: Longman.
  34. Sawaguchi, R., & Mizumoto, A. (2022). Exploring the use of make + noun collocations by Japanese EFL learners through a bilingual essay corpus. Corpora, 17(SI), 61-77.
  35. Schmitt, N. (Ed.). (2004). Formulaic Sequences: Acquisition, Processing and Use (pp. 269-292). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  36. Shamsabadi, R., Ketabi, S., & Eslami Rasekh, A. (2017). Developing Iranian EAP students' writing skill through explicit instruction of lexical bundles. Journal of Language Teaching and Learning, 19, 25-52.
  37. Sinclair, J. (1991). Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  38. Simpson-Vlach, R., & Ellis, N. C. (2010). An academic formulas list: New methods in phraseology research. Applied Linguistics, 31(12), 487-512.
  39. Siyanova-Chanturia, A., & Pellicer-Sanchez, A. (Eds.). (2019). Understanding Formulaic Language: A Second Language Acquisition Perspective. New York, NY: Routledge.
  40. Staples, S., Egbert, 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.
  41. Sykes, D. (2017). An investigation of spoken lexical bundles in interactive academic contexts. [Master's thesis, Carleton University].
  42. Wray, A. (2002). Formulaic Language and the Lexicon. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  43. Wu, S. M. (2006). Creating a contrastive rhetorical stance: Investigating the strategy of problematization in students' argumentation. REC journal, 37(3), 329-353.
  44. Yamashita, J., & Jiang, N. (2010). L1 influence on the acquisition of L2 collocations: Japanese ESL users and EFL learners acquiring English collocations. TESOL Quarterly, 44(4), 647-668.
  45. Yong, W., Jingli, W., & Zhou, C. (2010). The use of I think by Chinese EFL learners: A study revisited. Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, 33(1), 3-23.