scholarly journals A multi-dimensional contrastive study of English abstracts by native and non-native writers

Corpora ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Cao ◽  
Richard Xiao
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
English Abstract ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Contrastive Study ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Communicative Functions

This article takes the multi-dimensional (MD) analysis approach to explore the textual variations between native and non-native English abstracts on the basis of a balanced corpus containing English abstracts written by native English and native Chinese writers from twelve academic disciplines. A total of 47 out of 163 linguistic features are retained after factor analysis, which underlies a seven-dimension framework representing seven communicative functions. The results show that the two types of abstracts demonstrate significant differences in five out of the seven dimensions. To be more specific, native English writers display a more active involvement and commitment in presenting their ideas than Chinese writers. They also use intensifying devices more frequently. In contrast, Chinese writers show stronger preferences for conceptual elaboration, passives and abstract noun phrases no matter whether the two types of data are examined as a whole or whether variations across disciplines are taken into account. The results are discussed in relation to the possible reasons and suggestions for English abstract writing in China. Methodologically, this study innovatively expands on Biber's (1988) MD analytical framework by integrating colligation in addition to grammatical and semantic features.

The cultural ID in the modal system: A contrastive study of English abstracts written by Chinese and native speakers

English Today ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 6-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weina Li
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
English Abstract ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Contrastive Study ◽  
System A ◽  
Writing Paradigm ◽  
International Publishing ◽  
Academic Communication ◽  
Academic Authors

An abstract is a brief summary of a research paper, review or conference proceeding, which can be considered as a sub-register of academic writing and is often used to help readers quickly ascertain the paper's purpose, thesis, main results and conclusions. With the development of international academic communication, English abstracts play an increasingly vital role in international publishing and academic papers, being the basis for international academic citation indexes. UNESCO prescribes that all published scientific articles, no matter in which language, require a succinct English abstract. Most literature database search engines, such as the EI index, only display abstracts rather than providing the full text of the paper. Since an unsuccessful English abstract would be detrimental to the whole paper as well as to the general quality of the journal, no academic authors would want to lower their guard. In this context, the study of linguistic features of academic abstracts has attracted more and more attention of EAP scholars. The studies on English abstracts in China mainly focus on the writing paradigm as well as such linguistic features as stylistics, textual coherence, grammatical patterns, tense, voice and usage of prepositions (Xiong, 2002; Li et al, 2004; Wang, 2005; Fan, 2006; Li, 2008; He & Cao, 2010).

scholarly journals A cross-disciplinary investigation of multi-word expressions in the moves of research article abstracts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Omidian ◽  
H Shahriari ◽  
Anna Siyanova
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Academic Genres ◽  
Recurrent Word ◽  
Science Disciplines

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Conformity to the epistemological orientations of academic disciplines is often reflected in the ways in which knowledge is constructed and communicated through certain linguistic features in academic genres. This paper explores instances of such conformity in hard and soft science disciplines, as it is reflected in the use of recurrent word combinations in different rhetorical moves of research article abstracts. A corpus-driven approach was adopted to identify the most frequently occurring word combinations of different length in a corpus of 5910 abstracts from six disciplines. Following this, the identified sequences were classified according to their communicative functions in different moves of the abstract. A mixed-methods approach was then adopted through which the patterns of variation reflected in the use of the identified sequences were examined both quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that members of different academic domains have different priorities for representing their research in academic abstracts.

Native and non-native English abstracts in contrast

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 111-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Xiao ◽  
Yan Cao
Keyword(s):  
Multidimensional Analysis ◽  
English Abstract ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Contrastive Study ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Composite Approach

This article takes a composite approach that combines move analysis and multidimensional analysis to a contrastive study of textual variations in discourse moves between native and non-native English abstracts, focusing on the biology discipline. Building on a new multidimensional analysis model of English abstracts established in Cao & Xiao (2013), the present study demonstrates that in comparison with their Chinese counterparts, native English writers display a more active involvement and a more interactive style; and in all obligatory moves, they are also more focused and confident in using intensifying devices. Native and non-native abstracts differ significantly at both dimension level and move level. Such differences are discussed with reference to possible reasons and our suggestions for English abstract writing in China.

scholarly journals A cross-disciplinary investigation of multi-word expressions in the moves of research article abstracts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Omidian ◽  
H Shahriari ◽  
Anna Siyanova
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Academic Genres ◽  
Recurrent Word ◽  
Science Disciplines

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd Conformity to the epistemological orientations of academic disciplines is often reflected in the ways in which knowledge is constructed and communicated through certain linguistic features in academic genres. This paper explores instances of such conformity in hard and soft science disciplines, as it is reflected in the use of recurrent word combinations in different rhetorical moves of research article abstracts. A corpus-driven approach was adopted to identify the most frequently occurring word combinations of different length in a corpus of 5910 abstracts from six disciplines. Following this, the identified sequences were classified according to their communicative functions in different moves of the abstract. A mixed-methods approach was then adopted through which the patterns of variation reflected in the use of the identified sequences were examined both quantitatively and qualitatively. It was found that members of different academic domains have different priorities for representing their research in academic abstracts.

‘So yo creo que es un proceso evolutivo’: Language ideologies among Puerto Ricans in southeastern Pennsylvania

Multilingua ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Shenk
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Language Ideologies ◽  
Puerto Ricans ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
The United States ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Puerto Rican Spanish ◽  
Publicity Campaign

AbstractThis article examines the perspectives of Puerto Ricans living in the United States in response to a publicity campaign that focuses on the correction of linguistic features that appear in some Puerto Ricans’ spoken Spanish. The campaign addresses phonetic, morphological, lexical, and syntactic features, including a specific set of words or phrases that are named as lexical and semantic borrowings from English. Participants were invited to respond to the content and ideologies present in the campaign by means of semi-structured interviews. Through a framework of Critical Discourse Analysis and language (de)legitimation, the article analyzes the ways in which interviewees (de)legitimize loanwords in Puerto Rican Spanish. A Critical Discourse Analytical framework allows for the mapping of spoken and written texts (e. g. the campaign texts) onto discourses

scholarly journals LINGUISTIC FEATURES OF MODERN PRINTS ON CLOTHES

2021 ◽  
pp. 144-150
Author(s):  
Екатерина Александровна Непомнящих ◽  
Яньвэй Лю
Keyword(s):  
Modern World ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
Ideological Attitudes

В статье исследуются тексты на молодежной одежде, которая в современном мире становится способом самопрезентации языковой личности, декларации её идеологических установок, способом вступления в диалог. Авторы описывают структурно-семантические особенности принтов на одежде, отмечают использование императива, контекстуальных антонимов, включение лексики разной стилевой принадлежности, построение высказываний по типу устно-разговорных. Исследователи указывают на афористичность, прецедентность, креолизованность, а также хэштегирование текстовых принтов на одежде. The article examines texts on youth’s clothing, which in the modern world becomes a way of self-presentation of a linguistic personality, a declaration of its ideological attitudes, a way of entering into a dialogue. The authors describe the structural and semantic features of prints on clothes, note the use of the imperative, contextual antonyms, the inclusion of vocabulary of different styles, and the construction of statements as following the oral and colloquial traditions. Researchers point at aphorismic character, precedence, creolization, as well as hashtagging of text prints on clothing.

scholarly journals Serial Recall Order and Semantic Features of Category Fluency Words to Study Semantic Memory in Normal Ageing

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo De Marco ◽  
Daniel J. Blackburn ◽  
Annalena Venneri
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Graph Theory ◽  
Semantic Memory ◽  
Serial Recall ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Recall Order ◽  
Category Fluency

Background: Category Fluency Test (CFT) is a common measure of semantic memory (SM). Test performance, however, is also influenced by other cognitive functions. We here propose a scoring procedure that quantifies the correlation between the serial recall order (SRO) of words retrieved during the CFT and a number of linguistic features, to obtain purer SM measures. To put this methodology to the test, we addressed a proof-of-concept hypothesis whereby, in alignment with the literature, older adults would show better SM.Methods: Ninety participants (45 aged 18–21 years; 45 aged 70–81 years) with normal neurological and cognitive functioning completed a 1-min CFT. SRO was scored as an ordinal variable incrementing by one unit for each valid entry. Each word was also scored for 16 additional linguistic features. Participant-specific normalised correlation coefficients were calculated between SRO and each feature and were analysed with group comparisons and graph theory.Results: Younger adults showed more negative correlations between SRO and “valence” (a feature of words pleasantness). This was driven by the first five words generated. When analysed with graph theory, SRO had significantly higher degree and lower betweenness centrality among older adults.Conclusion: In older adults, SM relies significantly less on pleasantness of entries typically retrieved without semantic control. Moreover, graph-theory metrics indicated better optimised links between SRO and linguistic features in this group. These findings are aligned with the principle whereby SM processes tend to solidify with ageing. Although additional work is needed in support of an SRO-based item-level scoring procedure of CFT performance, these initial findings suggest that this methodology could be of help in characterising SM in a purer form.

scholarly journals Is science communication its own field?

2010 ◽  
Vol 09 (03) ◽  
pp. C04 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toss Gascoigne ◽  
Donghong Cheng ◽  
Michel Claessens ◽  
Jennifer Metcalfe ◽  
Bernard Schiele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Sociology Of Science ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Common View ◽  
The Status ◽  
Disciplinary Field ◽  
History Of

The present comment examines to what extent science communication has attained the status of an academic discipline and a distinct research field, as opposed to the common view that science communication is merely a sub-discipline of media studies, sociology of science or history of science. Against this background, the authors of this comment chart the progress science communication has made as an emerging subject over the last 50 years in terms of a number of measures. Although discussions are still ongoing about the elements that must be present to constitute a legitimate disciplinary field, we show here that science communication meets four key elements that constitute an analytical framework to classify academic disciplines: the presence of a community; a history of inquiry; a mode of inquiry that defines how data is collected; and the existence of a communications network.

scholarly journals Register and Register Variation

Linguistics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Register Variation ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Communicative Functions ◽  
Situational Characteristics ◽  
Register Studies ◽  
Primary Focus ◽  
Key Resources ◽  
Linguistic Approach

Register research has been approached from differing theoretical and methodological approaches, resulting in different definitions of the term register. In the text-linguistic approach, which is the primary focus of this bibliography, register refers to text varieties that are defined by their situational characteristics, such as the purpose of writing and the mode of communication, among others. Texts that are similar in their situational characteristics also tend to share similar linguistic profiles, as situational characteristics motivate or require the use of specific linguistic features. Text-linguistic research on register tends to focus on two aspects: attempts to describe a register, or attempts to understand patterns of register variation. This research happens via comparative analyses, specific examinations of single linguistic features or situational parameters, and often via examinations of co-occurrence of linguistic features that are analyzed from a functional perspective. That is, certain lexico-grammatical features co-occur in a given text because they together serve important communicative functions that are motivated by the situational characteristics of the text (e.g., communicative purpose, mode, setting, interactivity). Furthermore, corpus methods are often relied upon in register studies, which allows for large-scale examinations of both general and specialized registers. Thus, the bibliography gives priority to research that uses corpus tools and methods. Finally, while the broadest examinations on register focus on the distinction between written and spoken domains, additional divisions of register studies fall under the categories of written registers, spoken registers, academic registers, historical registers, and electronic/online registers. This bibliography primarily introduces some of the key resources on English registers, a decision that was made to reach a broader audience.

A dependency-based machine learning approach to the identification of research topics: a case in COVID-19 studies

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haoran Zhu ◽  
Lei Lei
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
New Method ◽  
Learning Models ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Research Topics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Information Retrieval Methods ◽  
Machine Learning Models

PurposePrevious research concerning automatic extraction of research topics mostly used rule-based or topic modeling methods, which were challenged due to the limited rules, the interpretability issue and the heavy dependence on human judgment. This study aims to address these issues with the proposal of a new method that integrates machine learning models with linguistic features for the identification of research topics.Design/methodology/approachFirst, dependency relations were used to extract noun phrases from research article texts. Second, the extracted noun phrases were classified into topics and non-topics via machine learning models and linguistic and bibliometric features. Lastly, a trend analysis was performed to identify hot research topics, i.e. topics with increasing popularity.FindingsThe new method was experimented on a large dataset of COVID-19 research articles and achieved satisfactory results in terms of f-measures, accuracy and AUC values. Hot topics of COVID-19 research were also detected based on the classification results.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that information retrieval methods can help researchers gain a better understanding of the latest trends in both COVID-19 and other research areas. The findings are significant to both researchers and policymakers.

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