Abstract :
Lexical bundles, or groups of words that frequently co-occur together, are a ubiquitous
feature of spoken language, yet they have received limited attention in the field of
English language teaching and learning. This mixed-methods study investigated the use
of lexical bundles in native English talk shows and their impact on speech fluency, with
a particular focus on their potential application in English language teaching and
learning. The employment of lexical bundles in 42 video talk shows released between
2017 and 2022 by 14 native English talk show hosts was analyzed using Biber et al.'s
(2004) taxonomy. The results demonstrated that native speakers frequently employ
lexical bundles, especially in introductory and closing segments, leading to enhanced
fluency levels, as indicated by increased speech rate and reduced pause durations, which
was measured through the analysis of the frequency of lexical bundles, their correlation
with speech rate and pause durations, and a segment-level analysis across different talk
show segments. Significantly positive correlations were found between total lexical
bundle usage and speech rate, suggesting that speakers who use more lexical bundles
tend to speak more quickly and with less pausing. The results indicated that total lexical
bundle use strongly correlated with increased speech rate, explaining about 53% of the
variation in speech rate. Accordingly, while our study focused on native speaker speech
patterns, we propose that explicit instruction of lexical bundles may be a valuable
addition to English language teaching curricula. However, further research would be
necessary to confirm whether this approach would be effective for EFL learners. The
results of this study indicate that lexical bundle instruction may be an effective means of
improving learners' fluency and confidence in spoken communication settings.
Keywords: Lexical Bundles; Native English Talk Show Hosts, Speech Fluency, Talk
Shows
