Uses and functions of formulaic sequences in second language speech: An exploration of the foundations of fluency

Formulaic sequences are fixed combinations of words that have a range of functions and uses in speech production and communication, and seem to be cognitively stored and retrieved by speakers as if they were single words. They can facilitate fluency in speech by making pauses shorter and less frequent, and allowing longer runs of speech between pauses. The present study was undertaken to identify the uses and functions of formulaic sequences in the development of speech fluency in narrative retelling in English as a second language (ESL). Spontaneous spoken narrative retells by ESL learners were analyzed for ways in which use of formulaic sequences may have facilitated fluency growth over a six-month period, be they pragmatic, functional, or strategic. Five categories of formula use emerged: repetition of a formula; use of multiple formulas to extend a run; reliance on one formula; use of self-talk and filler formulas; and use of formulas as rhetorical devices. These categories are illustrated by excerpts from transcripts of learner speech.