An Empirical Study Of Applying The Theory Of Lexical Chunks To Business English Writing

In recent years, an increasing number of linguists have done much research on the theory of lexical chunks and made a lot of achievements. Following are the important discoveries:1) Language consists of grammaticalized lexis, not lexicalized grammar.2) The fluency of language depends largely on the storage of lexical chunks in the memory.3) Human beings acquire language in the form of lexical chunks. Thus, in language acquisition, the roles of lexical chunks are of great importance, to which people attach greater importance. The basis of the theory of lexical chunks was established by Michael Lewis. Lewis proposes that language contains not just the traditional grammar and lexis but is composed of multi-word prefabricated lexical chunks. Lexis is not independent in language using, but appears in the form of lexical chunks. According to Nattinger and DeCarrico, lexical chunks can be categorized in two ways, in terms of structure and in terms of function. In terms of structure, lexical chunks are classified into four groups: polywords, institutionalized expressions, phrasal constraints and sentence builders. In terms of function, lexical chunks are classified into three groups by Nattinger and DeCarrico:social interactions, necessary topics and discourse devices. The study of lexical chunks involves lexis and grammar. So students can learn lexis and grammatical structures when studying lexical chunks.Business English is the English which is specifically used in business. Since its entering World Trade Organization, China’s communication and cooperation with the international world has greatly expanded. Business English Writing, as a very important approach of foreign communication, is of vital importance, whose quality decides the success of a business transaction to a large extent. In the huge wave of economic development, it becomes the tool for people to express their opinions, convey meanings and communicate in language. It realizes the function to promote economy and reflects our economic life as a special language phenomenon. At present, Business English Writing spreads more widely into the fields of economy and international trade, which becomes an indispensible basic skill for people in the circle of business. Undoubtedly, this arouses the urgent need of teaching reforms in language classes. As English teachers, we must spare no efforts to improve the teaching content and methods of Business English Writing, so as to form a suitable teaching system of Business English Writing. The author believes that, this teaching system should be based on the features of the Business English Writing in the framework of business practice to realize the efficient teaching of the English language.Compared with general English, business English has a comparatively fixed language environment. The features of lexical chunks are more apparent. It mainly covers three aspects:Firstly, in lexis, business English involves many fields, such as international trade, economy, finance, marketing, tourism, insurance, etc. Each field has many professional terms. And business English has many fixed business lexical chunks. Secondly, in sentence structure, business English has its own unique style in syntax. Business English has many lexical chunks, which have fixed forms, singular meaning and are easy to retrieve. This is helpful to business communication. Thirdly, in discourse, business English is in a closed discourse. This feature is especially prominent in Business English Writing. The introduction of the lexical chunk approach into Business English Writing can enhance the proficiency and correctness and enhance the ability and speed of Business English Writing. Meanwhile, it can relieve students’pressure of Business English Writing and improve students’performance of Business English Writing.This thesis chooses80students as subjects, who selected the selective course: Business English Writing in Qilu University of Technology. The research is to apply the theory of lexical chunks to Business English Writing. Conclusions are made through the analysis of the data collected to study the guiding significance and function of the theory of lexical chunks to Business English Writing by Microsoft Excel, and SPSS19.0was used to analyze the data. The major findings are as follows:1. Students from the experiment class adopt the lexical chunk approach, use larger vocabulary and more complicated grammar structures in their Business English Writing with less mistakes. Lexical chunks can promote students’vocabulary and grammar.2. The lexical chunk approach can help students to avoid the influence of Chinglish. The word choices and the sentence structures of their Business English Writing will be more idiomatic. Lexical chunks can promote the accuracy of Business English Writing.3. Lexical chunk approach can save a lot of time and energy so as to help students to speed up the Business English Writing. Thus, students can be relieved to concentrate on the fluency and smoothness of the Business English Writing. Lexical chunks can improve students’fluency of Business English Writing.The thesis also discusses the pedagogical implications of applying the lexical chunk approach to Business English Writing and gives suggestions for teachers. Teachers are supposed to introduce the lexical chunk theory to students and emphasize its importance at the beginning. The organization of the teaching course should be revised accordingly. Students are required to summarize and learn lexical chunks frequently. Teachers should help students to develop effective learning habits and give them more encouragement, care and supervision.