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Hedging and attitude markers in Spanish and English scientific medical writing

Abstract

Hedging, a sociopragmatic phenomenon that allows authors to maintain their presence in discourse, is a rather difficult strategy for non-natives scholars. In this paper, we present two studies: the first analyses hedging from cross-linguistic (Spanish and English L2) and cross-generic (Research Paper and Case Report) approaches in a corpus of 30 Medical full-texts from highly indexed research journals. Our results indicate that Spanish authors hedge more when writing in English L2 but less than an English native. The second focus on attitude markers (Affect, Judgement and Appreciation) following Appraisal Theory (Martin and White 2005) to detect cross-cultural differences in 60 Medical Book Reviews. The outcome shows that Spanish reviewers blend categories and seem more positive and direct in their assessments.

Abstract

Hedging, a sociopragmatic phenomenon that allows authors to maintain their presence in discourse, is a rather difficult strategy for non-natives scholars. In this paper, we present two studies: the first analyses hedging from cross-linguistic (Spanish and English L2) and cross-generic (Research Paper and Case Report) approaches in a corpus of 30 Medical full-texts from highly indexed research journals. Our results indicate that Spanish authors hedge more when writing in English L2 but less than an English native. The second focus on attitude markers (Affect, Judgement and Appreciation) following Appraisal Theory (Martin and White 2005) to detect cross-cultural differences in 60 Medical Book Reviews. The outcome shows that Spanish reviewers blend categories and seem more positive and direct in their assessments.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Theoretical and general models
  5. Subjectivity in modality, and beyond 13
  6. Certainty and uncertainty in assertive speech acts 31
  7. Ideal and deviant interlocutors in a formal interpretation system 59
  8. On being certain whether 79
  9. Uncertainty as integrated part of meaning and understanding 99
  10. Epistemic stance 115
  11. Medical and supportive interactions
  12. Requesting help with null or limited knowledge 139
  13. The journey to advice 157
  14. Diagnostic news delivery 183
  15. Epistemic struggles in addiction Therapeutic Community meetings 201
  16. Embodying epistemicity 223
  17. Scientific writing and academic communication
  18. The fabric of certainty 249
  19. Hedging and attitude markers in Spanish and English scientific medical writing 273
  20. A theoretical contribution to tackling certainty and uncertainty in scientific writing 291
  21. BioUncertainty 309
  22. Uncertainty markers in a corpus of German biomedical papers from Spektrum der Wissenschaft (1993-2012) 341
  23. Questioning certainty in research articles and popular science articles 369
  24. Self-repairs and certainty in Romanian academic meetings 389
  25. About the authors 403
  26. Index 411
Communicating Certainty and Uncertainty in Medical, Supportive and Scientific Contexts
This chapter is in the book Communicating Certainty and Uncertainty in Medical, Supportive and Scientific Contexts
https://doi.org/10.1075/ds.25.13oli

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface 1
  4. Theoretical and general models
  5. Subjectivity in modality, and beyond 13
  6. Certainty and uncertainty in assertive speech acts 31
  7. Ideal and deviant interlocutors in a formal interpretation system 59
  8. On being certain whether 79
  9. Uncertainty as integrated part of meaning and understanding 99
  10. Epistemic stance 115
  11. Medical and supportive interactions
  12. Requesting help with null or limited knowledge 139
  13. The journey to advice 157
  14. Diagnostic news delivery 183
  15. Epistemic struggles in addiction Therapeutic Community meetings 201
  16. Embodying epistemicity 223
  17. Scientific writing and academic communication
  18. The fabric of certainty 249
  19. Hedging and attitude markers in Spanish and English scientific medical writing 273
  20. A theoretical contribution to tackling certainty and uncertainty in scientific writing 291
  21. BioUncertainty 309
  22. Uncertainty markers in a corpus of German biomedical papers from Spektrum der Wissenschaft (1993-2012) 341
  23. Questioning certainty in research articles and popular science articles 369
  24. Self-repairs and certainty in Romanian academic meetings 389
  25. About the authors 403
  26. Index 411
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