Eri Kurniawan, Zahra Fadillah Haerunisa
Multi-word expressions known as ‘lexical bundles’ are vital components of effective writing, particularly in producing high-quality research articles that meet the standards of reputable journals. Numerous studies have highlighted the use of lexical bundles in various sections of research articles, including introductions, which serve as the foundation for the research rationale. However, little attention has been paid to the comparison between accepted and rejected manuscripts. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether the use of lexical bundles differs between the introduction sections of accepted and rejected research articles in applied linguistics. A total of 15 introductions for each data group were analyzed under the frameworks of lexical bundle structures and functions. A descriptive quantitative analysis was employed to assess the statistical differences and to explore the structural and functional patterns of the bundles. The results of the study reveal that while both accepted and rejected introductions in applied linguistics tend to rely on noun phrase-based and research-oriented lexical bundles, there are significant differences in the frequency and variety of these bundles. Specifically, the introductions that were accepted for publication had a higher number and a wider variety of lexical bundles than the rejected counterparts. Additionally, the two data sets exhibited different subcategories of lexical bundles in many cases. These findings have important implications for future research on the use of lexical bundles in academic writing and may help writers improve their chances of acceptance by journal reviewers. © 2023, Syiah Kuala University. All rights reserved.
Program of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Language and Literature, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia
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