The use of contrastive strategies in a sociology research paper
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Zosia Golebiowski
Abstract
This paper investigates the employment of contrastive rhetorical relations in three papers written in English and published in international sociological journals. The first paper is authored by native speakers of English; the second by a Polish writer working in an Australian discourse community; and the third by a Polish writer who is a member of a Polish discourse community. Contrastive relations are discussed with respect to textual function, frequency of employment, hierarchical location, discoursal prominence and explicitness. The analysis reveals both similarities and differences between the contrastive structures employed in the respective texts. It is hypothesized that the similarities result from the shared stylistic conventions and traditions of the disciplinary research community of sociology. Variations in the mode of employment of contrastive structures by the writers of the studied texts may be caused by their differing linguistic backgrounds and discourse community memberships.
Abstract
This paper investigates the employment of contrastive rhetorical relations in three papers written in English and published in international sociological journals. The first paper is authored by native speakers of English; the second by a Polish writer working in an Australian discourse community; and the third by a Polish writer who is a member of a Polish discourse community. Contrastive relations are discussed with respect to textual function, frequency of employment, hierarchical location, discoursal prominence and explicitness. The analysis reveals both similarities and differences between the contrastive structures employed in the respective texts. It is hypothesized that the similarities result from the shared stylistic conventions and traditions of the disciplinary research community of sociology. Variations in the mode of employment of contrastive structures by the writers of the studied texts may be caused by their differing linguistic backgrounds and discourse community memberships.
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
