Interpreting Four-word Lexical Bundles In English Conversation

This thesis presents a comprehensive analysis on "lexical bundle", particularly four-word lexical bundles, recurrent formulaic lexical units proposed in Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English (LGSWE), in English conversation from grammatical, semantic and functional perspectives.With the guidance of former researches on multi-word combinations and the aid of a FoxPro program, this research has checked in sampled corpus of British National Corpus (BNC) the four-word lexical bundles of high frequency in LGSWE and their related contexts. These four-word bundles in BNC are found to be an embodiment of the major features of conversation register, which is also displayed through the semantic distinctions of stance conveyed by these lexical bundles. The functions of lexical bundles in English conversation is analyzed on the basis of functional-semantic approach to dialogue by Halliday and the conversational analysis methods of Eggin together with abundant examples from BNC. The four-word lexical bundles are found to be a major sustaining device in conversation structure and an active strategy with supportive information to other interlocutors. And the bundles are also employed as a repairing device to clarify prior unclear utterance or to fill the gap between desire to speak and lack of verbal forms at the time of speaking.The paper is a pioneering attempt to present an integrate model for the interpretation of "lexical bundle" in conversation. It also offers suggestions on the proper introduction of lexical bundles in language teaching process so as to improve the learner's language proficiency.