Lexical Bundles and their Thematic Role in Moth Smoke: A Corpus-Driven Study

Abstract

This research study aims to examine how Mohsin Hamid conveys significant themes through his lexical choices and their strategic placement in the novel Moth Smoke. Utilizing AntConc to analyze the text's corpora, the researcher identifies key themes, including the moral downfall of society, corruption, and disloyalty, as reflected in the keywords, collocational patterns, and lexical bundles extracted from the analysis. The study interprets these findings using Mahlberg's (2013) model, revealing that specific lexical bundles; such as recurring phrases associated with deceit and societal decay; enhance the reader's understanding of the thematic concerns. This analysis underscores that Hamid’s deliberate lexical choices are instrumental in shaping the narrative's moral implications, illustrating how language intricately weaves the author’s thematic intentions.