Abstract
The present study utilizes a corpus-driven approach to identify the most common multi-word patterns in conversation and academic writing, and to investigate the differing pattern types in the two registers. The paper first surveys the methodological characteristics of corpus-driven research and then contrasts the linguistic characteristics of two types of multi-word sequences: 'multi-word lexical collocations' (combinations of content words) versus 'multi-word formulaic sequences' (incorporating both function words and content words). Building on this background, the primary focus of the paper is an empirical investigation of the 'patterns' represented by multi-word formulaic sequences. It turns out that the multi-word patterns typical of speech are fundamentally different from those typical of academic writing: patterns in conversation tend to be fixed sequences (including both function words and content words). In contrast, most patterns in academic writing are formulaic frames consisting of invariable function words with an intervening variable slot that is filled by content words.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 275-311 |
| Number of pages | 37 |
| Journal | International Journal of Corpus Linguistics |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2009 |
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Keywords
- Conversation versus academic writing
- Corpus-driven research
- Lexical bundles
- Lexical patterns
- Multi-word formulaic sequences
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language
Cite this
A corpus-driven approach to formulaic language in english : Multi-word patterns in speech and writing. / Biber, Douglas E.
In: International Journal of Corpus Linguistics, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2009, p. 275-311.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A corpus-driven approach to formulaic language in english
T2 - Multi-word patterns in speech and writing
AU - Biber, Douglas E
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The present study utilizes a corpus-driven approach to identify the most common multi-word patterns in conversation and academic writing, and to investigate the differing pattern types in the two registers. The paper first surveys the methodological characteristics of corpus-driven research and then contrasts the linguistic characteristics of two types of multi-word sequences: 'multi-word lexical collocations' (combinations of content words) versus 'multi-word formulaic sequences' (incorporating both function words and content words). Building on this background, the primary focus of the paper is an empirical investigation of the 'patterns' represented by multi-word formulaic sequences. It turns out that the multi-word patterns typical of speech are fundamentally different from those typical of academic writing: patterns in conversation tend to be fixed sequences (including both function words and content words). In contrast, most patterns in academic writing are formulaic frames consisting of invariable function words with an intervening variable slot that is filled by content words.
AB - The present study utilizes a corpus-driven approach to identify the most common multi-word patterns in conversation and academic writing, and to investigate the differing pattern types in the two registers. The paper first surveys the methodological characteristics of corpus-driven research and then contrasts the linguistic characteristics of two types of multi-word sequences: 'multi-word lexical collocations' (combinations of content words) versus 'multi-word formulaic sequences' (incorporating both function words and content words). Building on this background, the primary focus of the paper is an empirical investigation of the 'patterns' represented by multi-word formulaic sequences. It turns out that the multi-word patterns typical of speech are fundamentally different from those typical of academic writing: patterns in conversation tend to be fixed sequences (including both function words and content words). In contrast, most patterns in academic writing are formulaic frames consisting of invariable function words with an intervening variable slot that is filled by content words.
KW - Conversation versus academic writing
KW - Corpus-driven research
KW - Lexical bundles
KW - Lexical patterns
KW - Multi-word formulaic sequences
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349799309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70349799309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1075/ijcl.14.3.08bib
DO - 10.1075/ijcl.14.3.08bib
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 275
EP - 311
JO - International Journal of Corpus Linguistics
JF - International Journal of Corpus Linguistics
SN - 1384-6655
IS - 3
ER -