Polyphony in academic discourse
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Marina Bondi
Abstract
The study presented in this paper is based on an analysis of openings of historical research articles in English and in Italian and uses openings in economics research articles for disciplinary comparison. The paper starts by outlining some basic assumptions of this “double” cross-cultural perspective: in the context of an approach to writer’s identity based on the notion of multiple identities, its focus lies on both national and disciplinary communities. Including consideration of both textual rhetoric and language features, the study explores the way the writer’s voice interacts with other voices – in particular discourse actors, i.e. historical characters and witnesses - in the opening of the research article, across disciplines and across national academic cultures. Attention is also paid to the more or less explicit presence of the writer’s voice in stating the purpose of the article.
Abstract
The study presented in this paper is based on an analysis of openings of historical research articles in English and in Italian and uses openings in economics research articles for disciplinary comparison. The paper starts by outlining some basic assumptions of this “double” cross-cultural perspective: in the context of an approach to writer’s identity based on the notion of multiple identities, its focus lies on both national and disciplinary communities. Including consideration of both textual rhetoric and language features, the study explores the way the writer’s voice interacts with other voices – in particular discourse actors, i.e. historical characters and witnesses - in the opening of the research article, across disciplines and across national academic cultures. Attention is also paid to the more or less explicit presence of the writer’s voice in stating the purpose of the article.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- As academics we are not disposed to say “I know the world is round...” 19
- Certainty and commitment in the construction of academic knowledge in the humanities 33
- Citation in business management research articles 49
- A cross-cultural comparison of the functions and sociolinguistic distribution of English and German tag questions and discourse markers in academic speech 61
- Polyphony in academic discourse 83
- Academic voices in the research article 109
- Author identity in economics and linguistics abstracts 123
- Exploring the polyphonic dimension of academic book review articles in the discourse of linguistics 135
- Notes on notes 151
- The use of contrastive strategies in a sociology research paper 165
- Different worlds, different audiences 187
- Spoken rhetoric 199
- Argumentative strategies in conference discussions sessions 219
- Clash of the Titans 243
- Semantic and discursive construction of the “Europe of knowledge” 275
- Magna Charta Universitatum 294
- Index 297
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- As academics we are not disposed to say “I know the world is round...” 19
- Certainty and commitment in the construction of academic knowledge in the humanities 33
- Citation in business management research articles 49
- A cross-cultural comparison of the functions and sociolinguistic distribution of English and German tag questions and discourse markers in academic speech 61
- Polyphony in academic discourse 83
- Academic voices in the research article 109
- Author identity in economics and linguistics abstracts 123
- Exploring the polyphonic dimension of academic book review articles in the discourse of linguistics 135
- Notes on notes 151
- The use of contrastive strategies in a sociology research paper 165
- Different worlds, different audiences 187
- Spoken rhetoric 199
- Argumentative strategies in conference discussions sessions 219
- Clash of the Titans 243
- Semantic and discursive construction of the “Europe of knowledge” 275
- Magna Charta Universitatum 294
- Index 297
