Cross-linguistic transfer in academic journal writing: Evidence from lexical bundle analysis in Russian and English

Abstract

Lexical bundles are considered a fundamental feature of academic writing and have been extensively studied by corpus linguists. However, while learner corpus-based studies have noted the differences between first (L1) and second languages (L2) in the production of lexical bundles, few of them have assessed the underlying causes of such differences, particularly regarding cross-linguistic transfer. The present study investigates the use of lexical bundles in professional writing in the field of Educational Psychology produced by L1 English and L1 Russian authors in order to evaluate the evidence of cross-linguistic transfer in the writing of L2 English learners with L1 Russian background and examine the patterns of L2 English lexical bundle use that mirror L1 English production. This exploratory study compares the frequency and discourse functions of lexical bundles produced by native speakers of English to those used by Russian speakers in their L2 English professional writing, as well as professional writing in their L1. The results of the study indicate that L2 English writing produced by Russian speakers displays overlap in the composition and use of lexical bundles in L1 Russian writing pointing at possible L1 transfer.