A Corpus-Based Study Based on a Structural and Functional Analysis of Lexical Bundles in Online Business News

Piriya Thaksanan

A Corpus-Based Study Based on a Structural and Functional Analysis of Lexical Bundles in Online Business News

Piriya Thaksanan

Abstract

While numerous studies have explored formulaic language in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) across genres and registers, the linguistic demands of rapid digitalization, especially in online business news, remain under-investigated. Unlike previous studies, this study analyses lexical bundles in business news articles published in 2025, capturing shifts in register driven by trade policy and tariffs. Specifically, the study’s objectives were to investigate the frequency of lexical bundles used in online business news from January to May 2025, and to examine the extent to which a functional taxonomy can characterize these bundles. A total of 450 business news articles from three news agencies, i.e., BBC, CNN, and Reuters, comprising 321,225 running-word tokens, were compiled and analyzed using the AntConc software. The analysis identified 67 four-word lexical bundles meeting the frequency and range criteria. Structurally, noun phrase-based bundles, e.g., the world’s largest and a global trade war, were the most frequent, followed by prepositional phrase-based, verb phrase-based, and clause-based bundles. Functionally, referential bundles, e.g., in the first quarter and at the same time, were predominant, particularly those indicating identification/focus and time/place/text deixis. Stance bundles and special conversational bundles, especially reporting expressions, e.g., said in a statement, were also notable. The outcomes of this study provide meaningful resources for instructors to improve students’ learning of lexical bundles, specifically in online business news. Furthermore, the findings suggest that ESP instructors should prioritize noun-phrase structures to help students master the linguistic style of modern digital reporting.

Keywords: Business English; corpus linguistics; formulaic language; lexical bundles; online business news

ABSTRAK

Meskipun telah banyak kajian yang meneroka bahasa berformula dalam Bahasa Inggeris Untuk Tujuan Khusus (ESP) merentasi pelbagai genre dan laras bahasa telah dilakukan, namun tuntutan linguistik akibat digitalisasi yang makin berkembang, terutamanya kajian melibatkan berita perniagaan dalam talian masih kurang diteliti. Berbeza dengan kajian terdahulu, kajian ini menganalisis berkas leksikal perniagaan dalam artikel berita perniagaan yang diterbitkan pada tahun 2025 untuk mengenal pasti perubahan laras bahasa yang didorong oleh dasar perdagangan dan tarif. Objektif kajian ini ialah untuk menyiasat kekerapan berkas leksikal yang digunakan dalam berita perniagaan dalam talian dari Januari hingga Mei 2025, serta meneliti sejauh mana taksonomi fungsi dapat mencirikan berkas tersebut dalam laporan berita perniagaan. Sejumlah 450 artikel berita perniagaan daripada BBC, CNN, dan Reuters telah dikumpul dan dianalisis menggunakan perisian AntConc yang merangkumi 321,225 token perkataan. Hasil analisis telah dapat mengenal pasti 67 berkas leksikal empat perkataan yang memenuhi kriteria kekerapan dan julat yang telah ditetapkan. Dari segi struktur, berkas berasaskan frasa nama (contohnya, 'the world’s largest', 'a global trade war') merupakan yang paling kerap digunakan, diikuti oleh berkas berasaskan frasa sendi nama, frasa kerja, dan klausa. Dari segi fungsi pula, berkas rujukan (contohnya, 'in the first quarter', 'at the same time') didapati lebih dominan terutamanya yang menunjukkan identifikasi/fokus serta deiksis masa/tempat/teks. Berkas pendirian dan berkas perbualan khas, terutamanya klausa pelaporan (contohnya, 'said in a statement') juga ditemui dalam data kajian. Dapatan kajian ini dilihat dapat menyediakan sumber yang bermakna bagi para pendidik untuk meningkatkan pembelajaran pelajar mengenai berkas leksikal, khususnya dalam berita perniagaan dalam talian. Selain itu, hasil dapatan ini juga mencadangkan agar para pendidik ESP memberi keutamaan kepada struktur frasa nama bagi membantu pelajar menguasai gaya linguistik pelaporan digital moden.

Kata Kunci: Bahasa Inggeris Perniagaan; linguistik korpus; bahasa berformula; berkas leksikal; berita perniagaan dalam talian

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