A comparison of lexical bundles in spoken courtroom language across time, registers, and varieties

This chapter explores diachronic, register, and language varieties in courtroom language using three-word lexical bundles. Building on Culpeper and Kytö (2010), who described lexical bundles in Present Day English and Early Modern English trials, we explore the 1994 O. J. Simpson trial. Following Culpeper and Kytö, we identified the fifty most frequent bundles. After comparing bundles and functions to Culpeper and Kytö, we divided the O. J. Simpson trial into opening statement, direct examination, cross-examination, and closing argument. Results show the influence of situational similarities on the bundles that were found and also on the functions of the bundles. The results also show the importance of examining sub-registers that reflect important aspects of variation due to situational and functional goals.