LINGUIST List 21.2407 Sun May 30 2010 Diss: Disc Analysis/Text/Corpus Ling: Rahman: 'A Comparative Study ...' Editor for this issue: Mfon Udoinyang <mfonlinguistlist.org> To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm. Directory         1.    Mujib Rahman, A Comparative Study of Native and Pakistani Geology Reseach Articles Message 1: A Comparative Study of Native and Pakistani Geology Reseach Articles Date: 30-May-2010 From: Mujib Rahman <drmr1956yahoo.co.uk> Subject: A Comparative Study of Native and Pakistani Geology Reseach Articles E-mail this message to a friend Institution: University of Edinburgh Program: Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 1995 Author: Mujib Rahman Dissertation Title: A Comparative Study of Native and Pakistani Geology Reseach Articles Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis                             Text/Corpus Linguistics Subject Language(s): English (eng) Dissertation Director: Gibson Ferguson Tony Lynch Jean Ure Dissertation Abstract: Working within the framework of genre analysis and systemic linguistics, this thesis presents a comparative analysis of published native and Pakistani geology experimental research articles (RAs) with a view to examining differences in the Pakistani geologists' scientific reporting vis-a-vis their native counterparts: differences in discourse organisation (genre), thematic choices (thematic configuration), the method of development, and the use of interpersonal (mood/ modality, attitudinal adjuncts, etc.) and textual rhetoric (discourse adjuncts, metalinguistic comments, etc.). Also, a Three-Move rhetorical model is developed and proposed for the RA discussion section which is then used to compare the two datasets, each consisting of thirty research articles written by native and Pakistani academic geoscientists. Experimental RAs were used in the study for three very apparent reasons: (i) they are unquestionably the greatest exemplars of 'information exchange' in the world of science, bearing the full thrust of a discourse community's epistemic objectives; (ii) they have an established generic and discourse structure; and (iii) they have one globally acknowledged intention, that of persuading other scientists to consider and accept the truth and the worth of the author's research. All this makes the experimental RAs amenable to all kind of textual, discourse, and rhetorical analyses. The theoretical frameworks used in the study proved not only productive but also illuminating. In fact, the framework of rhetorical prosodies (interpersonal & textual rhetoric) was unique to this study. In this respect, and in all other respects, the Pakistani RAs exhibited obvious and subtle differences. Following are the most important findings: (1) The Pakistani geologists did not give as much importance to the crucial Swalesian Move-2 (Establishing the niche) as their native counterparts; (2) the Pakistani geologists used longer introductory Moves in both the introduction and the discussion sections; (3) the Pakistani discussions had a shorter Move 2 (Discussing the findings) and a shorter Move 3 (Generalising the findings); (4) the Pakistani scientists used fewer interpersonal and textual points of departure than their native counterparts; (5) the Pakistani geologist had problems with chaining topical themes, crucial for having a uniform focus and a consistent method of development; (6) the Pakistani writers also used fewer interpersonal prosodies, and fewer First Person pronouns, though they used more modal expressions (hedges). As all the differences were found to be statistically significant, the main conclusion drawn from this study is that the Pakistani writers are more tentative and less assertive in their claims. Another distinctive feature of this study was the use of actual records of native referees' comments on Pakistani manuscripts submitted to international journals. The native referees' comments corroborate all the findings reported in the study. Finally, a series of workshops are proposed to address the problems identified in the course of this study. Directions for further research are also pointed out. Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue Page Updated: 30-May-2010       About LINGUIST    |   Contact Us       While the LINGUIST List makes every effort to ensure the linguistic relevance of sites listed on its pages, it cannot vouch for their contents.