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Thematic Progression in the Academic Writing of Non-English Major Postgraduates in Mainland China
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
1-7
Received:
12 December 2018
Accepted:
25 December 2018
Published:
21 January 2019
Abstract: Through combing out eight patterns of Thematic Progression which are most frequently used in English scientific and technological academic papers, this study aims to examine the usage tendency and internal influencing factors of Thematic Progression patterns in English research abstracts written by postgraduates majoring in architecture and civil engineering in mainland China. Combining corpus-based analyses and group-focus interviews, results show that the overall writing level of Chinese non-English major postgraduates could reach the publishing standards of international journals in the facet of the number of words and sentences. Especially, “Simple Linear Thematic Progression” and “Thematic Progression with a Constant Theme” were the most frequently used in the students’ abstracts. Findings suggest that the tendency of using “Simple Linear Thematic Progression” was driven by the logic of students’ thinking in the academic writing process, while the application of “Thematic Progression with a Constant Theme” was correlate with genre types. The specific Move Structure in research abstracts was also found to be potentially affecting the usage tendency of special Thematic Progression patterns. Both theoretical and practical implications were discussed in this study.
Abstract: Through combing out eight patterns of Thematic Progression which are most frequently used in English scientific and technological academic papers, this study aims to examine the usage tendency and internal influencing factors of Thematic Progression patterns in English research abstracts written by postgraduates majoring in architecture and civil e...
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Some Theoretical Observations on Discourse (and Text)
Jelena Jovanović Simić,
Radoje Simić
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
8-12
Received:
3 December 2018
Accepted:
29 December 2018
Published:
24 January 2019
Abstract: In the proposed study, the authors deal with a discourse (compared to a text) as a special verbatology form. The authors proceed from the general settings of narrative theory, and upgrade it with methodological achievements of verbatology, linguistics of text, genius and functional stylistics, – with the aim to specify the notions of discourse and text in the theoretical discussion. Considering various approaches to these concepts and definitions of the two concepts, as formulated and observed from various theoretical aspects, the authors have come to believe that a text and a discourse are actually higher rank structures in relation to the syntactic language forms, i.e. that the forms of suprasentential or, actually, genre organization of the verbal activities are on one side, while the forms of its written representation are on the other side. Here we have the concept of discourse in the foreground, and we have understood the text as a support, i.e. as our starting point in the discussion, in relation to which we define the discourse. Observed in such theoretical perspective – a discourse represents the linguistic base and the structural background of the text, including all important processes of preparation and creation of structural forms of the verbal activity as a whole.
Abstract: In the proposed study, the authors deal with a discourse (compared to a text) as a special verbatology form. The authors proceed from the general settings of narrative theory, and upgrade it with methodological achievements of verbatology, linguistics of text, genius and functional stylistics, – with the aim to specify the notions of discourse and ...
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Workplace Discourse: Constructing Social Identity of Lecturers Through WhatsApp Group
Yana Shanti Manipuspika,
Tantri Refa Indhiarti,
Emy Sudarwati
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
13-22
Received:
25 November 2018
Accepted:
10 January 2019
Published:
31 January 2019
Abstract: This paper discusses how WhatsApp (WA) group can be used to maintain social and workplace relationship. In the presence of positive mediation of WA, people may have a sense of belonging as WA is a written discourse community. A WhatsApp group of lecturers was used as the source of data. Based on the results of analysis, it was revealed that the lecturers who join this WA group generally attempt to assert their individuality. Yet, they put their efforts to join others by maintaining their sense of status or self-esteem as they are members of the group by doing some imposition. It was also found that rich communication can be realized through WA group. The members’ use of greetings and the use of directives are reported. The syntactic and lexical choices made by the lecturers are consciously or subconsciously interpreted by the members of the group. The messages in WA group also revealed that the lecturers in the group show they are able to contribute freely, avoid conflict and create harmonious working relationships via the WA chat forum. The study described here is a case study of a written workplace discourse in an educational institution. Hence no statistical tests have been carried out since it is regarded as exploratory. Further study based on different workplaces and in different contexts needs to be conducted to see how these findings hold for other workplaces.
Abstract: This paper discusses how WhatsApp (WA) group can be used to maintain social and workplace relationship. In the presence of positive mediation of WA, people may have a sense of belonging as WA is a written discourse community. A WhatsApp group of lecturers was used as the source of data. Based on the results of analysis, it was revealed that the lec...
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Introduction to the Theory of Linguistic Inventory Typology: Gaining Insights from the “Inventory”
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
23-31
Received:
22 December 2018
Accepted:
10 January 2019
Published:
31 January 2019
Abstract: In the light of current studies in language typology, this paper introduces one of the latest linguistic developments in China, i.e. the theory of Linguistic Inventory Typology. This theory holds that linguistic forms in a language tend to be language-particular, which constitute an inventory of their own, yet human cognition and common communication needs will lead them to unity. Some major insights from this theory, such as mighty category, cross-categorical correspondence, inventory split, in-/out-of-inventory, two-way interaction and non-independence, etc. are addressed in this paper with examples.
Abstract: In the light of current studies in language typology, this paper introduces one of the latest linguistic developments in China, i.e. the theory of Linguistic Inventory Typology. This theory holds that linguistic forms in a language tend to be language-particular, which constitute an inventory of their own, yet human cognition and common communicati...
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Past Achievements and Future Possiblities of Systemic-Functional Discourse/Text Analysis: In Memory of M. A. K. Halliday
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
32-41
Received:
27 December 2018
Accepted:
21 January 2019
Published:
9 February 2019
Abstract: M. A. K. Halliday passed away from us, but his linguistic influence is and will always be with linguistic academia, which is realized in the research on Systemic-Functional Discourse/Text Analysis (SFDA). This paper gives an overview of SFDA studies, and summarizes eight major contributions of SFDA, including construal of world famous discourse/text analysis (DA) theories, emergence of the “Golden Delta” of research, numerous publications, development of different analytic models, etc. And it argues that its future research orientations may include macro planning, micro deepening, theoretical exploration, practical standardization, and popularization and promotion. The conclusion is that there is a great potential for the development of SFDA.
Abstract: M. A. K. Halliday passed away from us, but his linguistic influence is and will always be with linguistic academia, which is realized in the research on Systemic-Functional Discourse/Text Analysis (SFDA). This paper gives an overview of SFDA studies, and summarizes eight major contributions of SFDA, including construal of world famous discourse/tex...
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Contextual Relevance: The Basic Condition for Textual Coherence
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
42-49
Received:
4 November 2018
Accepted:
28 January 2019
Published:
22 February 2019
Abstract: The present paper aims to reveal what the basic condition for textual coherence is. The research method is mainly comparison and theoretical argumentation. In the first part of the paper three major theories are compared and the contributions and limitations of each are pointed out. The current situation is that the research on textual theory still lays its emphasis on the aspect of linguistic forms; the interpretations for textual coherence in the aspect of language meaning and the recognition of the essence and the condition of textual coherence are not yet deep nor comprehensive enough. Then in part two the authors reveal the different knowledge or enlightenments by the three theories about what textual coherence is, and argue that semantic relevance is the essence of textual coherence. In fact the production and understanding of language cannot be free from context. Context constrains the generation of coherent texts and the cognition of the coherence of the text. So part three of the paper elaborates the constraining effect of various contexts on the relevance of the meaning of the various linguistic items within the text. In the end the paper draws the conclusion that contextual relevance is the basic condition for textual coherence, that is to say, only relevant contexts can bring a smooth, logically coherent text.
Abstract: The present paper aims to reveal what the basic condition for textual coherence is. The research method is mainly comparison and theoretical argumentation. In the first part of the paper three major theories are compared and the contributions and limitations of each are pointed out. The current situation is that the research on textual theory still...
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Bilingual Dissection of Words with Biblical Correlation
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, January 2019
Pages:
50-54
Received:
20 December 2018
Accepted:
11 January 2019
Published:
22 February 2019
Abstract: In the language of China, GOD神 was initially written with two hands holding worshiping item. Its translated words related to GOD also show duality. We allocate the cause of such duality to the covenant of GOD with Abram, when “Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other”. Astonishingly, we notice that numerous words match this verse and much more extensively, the whole holy bible including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. We present examples of such matching to cutting offering, burning offering and divine appearance of LORD in cloud. The widespread coincidences of bi-linguistic match and biblical match can only be achieved by GOD.
Abstract: In the language of China, GOD神 was initially written with two hands holding worshiping item. Its translated words related to GOD also show duality. We allocate the cause of such duality to the covenant of GOD with Abram, when “Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other”. Astonishingly, we notice that...
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