Investigating Lexical Bundles in Indonesian EFL Textbooks for Senior High Schools: a Corpus-Based Study
Ikmi Nur Oktavianti – Tri Rina Budiwati
DOI: 10.18355/XL.2026.19.01.09
Abstract
This study explores lexical bundles in Indonesian EFL (English as a Foreign Language) textbooks, focusing on the frequency, structural patterns, and functional classifications. Lexical bundles—recurring sequences of words that co-occur frequently in natural discourse—are key indicators of language fluency and play a crucial role in language pedagogy. The textbook texts were compiled into a digital corpus, pre-processed to remove non-linguistic elements (e.g., numbers, captions, tables), and analysed using AntConc software. A minimum frequency threshold of 10 occurrences and a dispersion criterion across at least three chapters were applied to ensure relevance and representativeness. The present study focused on the structural and functional classification of lexical bundles. The results showed that the most frequent bundles included “based on the,” “work in pairs,” and “what have you learned,” suggesting a strong pedagogical and instructional orientation in the materials. Structurally, verb-phrase- and noun-phrase-based bundles were predominant, while functionally, they were commonly used to express stance, organize discourse, and provide referential cues. These patterns align with the instructional goals of EFL classrooms, emphasizing directive and expository discourse. The study recommends that curriculum developers and teachers pay closer attention to the inclusion and teaching of lexical bundles to enhance learners’ formulaic competence.
Key words: lexical bundles, Indonesian EFL textbooks, structural patterns, functional classification, corpus linguistics
Pages: 128-148
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