Formulaic sequence

According to "The Canadian Modern Language Review", formulaic sequences are "fixed combinations of words that...can facilitate fluency in speech by making pauses shorter and less frequent, and allowing longer runs of speech between pauses".[1]

A formulaic sequence is "a sequence, continuous or discontinuous, of words or other elements, which is, or appears to be, prefabricated: that is, stored and retrieved whole from memory at the time of use, rather than being subject to generation or analysis by the language grammar".[2]

They can be found everywhere in language use and “make up a large proportion of any discourse” (Schmitt and Carter, 2004:1).[3] FS can be of any length and can be used to express messages, functions, social solidarity and process information very fast without communication misunderstanding.[4]

References

  1. ↑ http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/canadian_modern_language_review/v063/63.1wood.html
  2. ↑ Wray, Alison (2002). Formulaic Language and the Lexicon. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 9. ISBN 0521022126.
  3. ↑ Schmitt (Ed.), Norbert (2004). Formulaic Sequences in Action: An Introduction. In: Schmitt, Norbert (Ed.) Formulaic Sequences: Acquisition, Processing and Use. Amsterdam: Benjamins. p. 1.
  4. ↑ Schmitt (Ed.), Norbert (2004). Formulaic Sequences in Action: An Introduction. In: Schmitt, Norbert (Ed.) Formulaic Sequences: Acquisition, Processing and Use. Amsterdam: Benjamins. p. 3.