International Journal of Contents

The Korea Contents Association (한국콘텐츠학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Lexical Bundles in Computer Science Research Articles: A Corpus-Based Study

  • Lee, Je-Young (Department of English Education, Jeonju University) ;
  • Lee, Hye Jin (College of Liberal Arts, Wonkwang University)
  • Received : 2018.11.26
  • Accepted : 2018.12.21
  • Published : 2018.12.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this corpus-based study was to find 4-word lexical bundles in computer science research articles. As the demand for research articles (RAs) for international publication increases, the need for acquiring field-specific writing conventions for this academic genre has become a burning issue. Particularly, one area of burgeoning interest in the examination of rhetorical structures and linguistic features of RAs is the use of lexical bundles, the indispensable building blocks that make up an academic discourse. To illustrate, different academic discourses rely on distinctive repertoires of lexical bundles. Because lexical bundles are often acquired as a whole, the recurring multi-word sequences can be retrieved automatically to make written discourse more fluent and natural. Therefore, the proper use of rhetorical devices specific to a particular discipline can be a vital indicator of success within the discourse communities. Hence, to identify linguistic features that make up specific registers, this corpus-based study examines the types and usage frequency of lexical bundles in the discipline of CS, one of the most in-demand fields world over. Given that lexical bundles are empirically-derived formulaic multi-word units, identifying core lexical bundles used in RAs, they may provide insights into the specificity of particular CS text types. This will in turn provide empirical evidence of register specificity and technicality within the academic discourse of computer science. As in the results, pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

References

  1. V. Cortes, "Lexical Bundles in Published and Student Disciplinary Writing: Examples from History and Biology," English for Specific Purposes, vol 23, no. 4, 2004, pp. 397-423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2003.12.001
  2. K. Hyland, "As Can Be Seen: Lexical Bundles and Disciplinary Variation," English for Specific Purposes, vol. 27, no. 4, 2008, pp. 4-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2007.06.001
  3. T. Omidian, H. Shahriari, and A. Siyanova-Chanturia, "A Cross-disciplinary Investigation of Multi-word Expressions in the Moves of Research Article Abstracts," Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 36, 2018, pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2018.08.002
  4. M. Kazemi, M. Kohandani, and N. Farzaneh, "The Impact of Lexical Bundles on How Applied Linguistics Articles are Evaluated," Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 98, 2014, pp. 870-875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.494
  5. Z. S. Jalali and M. R. Moini, "Structure of Lexical Bundles in Introduction Section of Medical Research Articles," Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 98, 2014, pp. 719-726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.03.473
  6. L. Valipoor, A Corpus-based Study of Words and Bundles in Chemistry Research Articles, MA thesis, University of Kashan, 1998.
  7. N. Parvizi, Identification of Discipline-specific Lexical Bundles in Education, MA thesis, University of Kashan, 2011.
  8. F. Pan, R. Reppen, and D. Biber, "Comparing Patterns of L1 versus L2 English Academic Professionals: Lexical Bundles in Telecommunications Research Journals," Journal of English for Academic Purposes, vol. 21, 2016, pp. 60-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2015.11.003
  9. Q. Chen and G. Ge, "A Corpus-based Lexical Study on Frequency and Distribution of Coxhead's AWL Word Families in Medical Research Articles (RAs)," English for Specific Purpose, vol. 26, no. 4, 2007, pp. 502-514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2007.04.003
  10. I. A. Martinez, S. C. Beck, and C. B. Panza, "Academic Vocabulary in Agriculture Research Articles: A Corpus-based Study," English for Specific Purposes, vol. 28, no. 3, 2009, pp. 183-198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2009.04.003
  11. L. Anthony, Antconc 3.5.7: A Free Text Analysis Software. Available on line at http://www.antlab.sci.waseda.ac.jp, 2018.
  12. R. Allan, "Lexical Bundles in Graded Readers: To What Extent Does Language Restriction Affect Lexical Patterning?," System, vol. 59, 2016, pp. 61-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2016.04.005
  13. V. C. Galpin and I. D. Sanders, "Perceptions of Computer Science at a South African University," Computers & Education, vol. 49, no. 4, 2007, pp. 1330-1356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2006.02.008