Lexical Phrases and Bundles
Macromarkers in Classroom and Lecture usage
Discourse function
Topic Markers
Topic Shifters
Summarizers
Exemplifiers
Relators
Evaluators
Qualifiers
Asides
Lexical phrase
Context
Global Categories
We’ll be looking at . . . ; Let me talk about X, then we’ll
go to Y . . . ; I’ll be talking to you about . . . ; Let’s first
deal with . . . ; Let me suggest some ways . . . ; Now I
would like to give you . . . ; You recall from last
time . . . ; One other things (about all of this)
So let’s turn to . . . ; One final point is . . . ;
Now (falling tone + pause) . . .; OK (falling tone +
pause) . . . ; Now I’d like to give you . . . ;
This leads to . . . ; Any other comments before I turn to
X . . .?;
All this says is . . . ; So the theory goes . . . ; So there
you’ve got . . . ; so what we’ve got is . . . ; To tie this
up . . . ; What I’m saying is that . . . ; OK (level
intonation) . . . ; We’ve suggested that . . . ; You should
be able to see that . . . ; So this seems to be . . . ; And
that’s the . . .
Local High-Level Organizers
See if X clears this up . . . ; If you’ve seen . . . , then you
know . . . ; Take (say) X (here) for example . . . ; One of
the ways this can be seen is . . . ; Take X, for instance/
example . . . ; As we’ll see . . . ; X is what I mean by
Y...
This ties in with . . . ; Same way here . . . ; that would go
not only for X but (also) for Y . . . ; If you look at X,
here’s Y . . .; Keep in mind that . . . ; Along the same
lines . . . ; You would think that X, but in fact Y . . . ; That
is . . . ; In connection with X, Y . . .
As X would have us believe . . .; X is fine with me . . . ;
Look at what’s going on here . . . ; Look how
important . . . ; X might not work . . . ; I guarantee you
that . . . ; And this is really the key to . . . ; The X I would
offer is Y . . . ; But as a matter of fact . . . .
The catch here is . . . ; But X does not mean that Y . . . ;
That’s not really what we mean by . . . ; It depends on
how you define . . . ; So far as I know . . .
I guess I got off track here . . . ;
(Well) forget about X . . . ; Where was I?
I’d like to pass over . . . ; But I’m getting ahead of
myself . . .
DeCarrico and Nattinger, 1988, Lexical Phrases for the Comprehension of Academic Lectures, English
for Specific Purposes, 7, 91-102.
Lexical Phrases and Bundles
Macromarkers in Discourse (connect meaning and structure)
Discourse function
Logical connectors
Lexical phrase
As a result (of X); nevertheless;
Because (of); in spite of
Temporal (time) connectors
The day/ month/year before/after________;
and then; after X then/ the next is Y
Spatial connectors
Around here; over there; at/on the corner
Fluency devices
You know; it seems (to me) that X; by and
large; at any rate; if you see what I mean; and
so on; so to speak; as a matter of fact
Exemplifiers
In other words; it’s like X; for example; to
give you an example
Relators
The (other) thing X is Y; X has (a lot)/doesn’t
have much to do with Y; not only X but also Y
Qualifiers
It depends on X; the catch is X; it’s only in X
that Y
Evaluators
As far as I know/can tell; there’s no doubt that
X; I’m (not) absolutely sure/positive/certain
(but) ____; I guess; at least; at all
Summarizers
To make a long story short; my point (here) is
that X; OK (level) intonation
Context
Nattinger, J.R. and DeCarrico, J.S. (1992). Lexical Phrases and Language Teaching. Oxford:
Oxford University Press. Pp. 64-5