Chapter 6. Lexical bundles in news discourse 1784–1983
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Ying Wang
Abstract
This paper aims to identify and trace the development of four-word lexical bundles characterising news discourse, using a corpus of news articles published in The Times of London between 1784 and 1983. In terms of frequency, there has been an increase until the end of the nineteenth century, followed then by a continual decrease. The explanations take into account the sociohistorical background of early newspapers, including improved technology, increased literacy and journalist movements, which in turn may have resulted in changes in news discourse. At the same time, we can see recurrent structural patterns and functions of such bundles over the two centuries, suggesting a high degree of stability underlying the use of lexical bundles, and by extension, news discourse itself.
Abstract
This paper aims to identify and trace the development of four-word lexical bundles characterising news discourse, using a corpus of news articles published in The Times of London between 1784 and 1983. In terms of frequency, there has been an increase until the end of the nineteenth century, followed then by a continual decrease. The explanations take into account the sociohistorical background of early newspapers, including improved technology, increased literacy and journalist movements, which in turn may have resulted in changes in news discourse. At the same time, we can see recurrent structural patterns and functions of such bundles over the two centuries, suggesting a high degree of stability underlying the use of lexical bundles, and by extension, news discourse itself.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Chapter 1. English news discourse from newsbooks to new media 3
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Part I. Changing or maintaining conventions?
- Chapter 2. Of hopes and plans 15
- Chapter 3. Religious lexis and political ideology in English Civil War newsbooks 39
- Chapter 4. Contemporary observations on the attention value and selling power of English print advertisements (1700–1760) 61
- Chapter 5. A modest proposal in The Gentleman’s Magazine 81
- Chapter 6. Lexical bundles in news discourse 1784–1983 97
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Part II. Widening audiences
- Chapter 7. British popular newspaper traditions 119
- Chapter 8. The Poor Man’s Guardian 137
- Chapter 9. Diffusing political knowledge in illustrated magazines 157
- Chapter 10. From adverts to letters to the editor 175
- Chapter 11. The public identity of Jack the Ripper in late nineteenth-century British newspapers 199
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Part III. New practices
- Chapter 12. Narrative vs. “objective” style 219
- Chapter 13. Astride two worlds 241
- Chapter 14. Newspaper funnies at the dawn of modernity 267
- Index 295
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
- Chapter 1. English news discourse from newsbooks to new media 3
-
Part I. Changing or maintaining conventions?
- Chapter 2. Of hopes and plans 15
- Chapter 3. Religious lexis and political ideology in English Civil War newsbooks 39
- Chapter 4. Contemporary observations on the attention value and selling power of English print advertisements (1700–1760) 61
- Chapter 5. A modest proposal in The Gentleman’s Magazine 81
- Chapter 6. Lexical bundles in news discourse 1784–1983 97
-
Part II. Widening audiences
- Chapter 7. British popular newspaper traditions 119
- Chapter 8. The Poor Man’s Guardian 137
- Chapter 9. Diffusing political knowledge in illustrated magazines 157
- Chapter 10. From adverts to letters to the editor 175
- Chapter 11. The public identity of Jack the Ripper in late nineteenth-century British newspapers 199
-
Part III. New practices
- Chapter 12. Narrative vs. “objective” style 219
- Chapter 13. Astride two worlds 241
- Chapter 14. Newspaper funnies at the dawn of modernity 267
- Index 295
