Transitivity Analysis of Rhetorical Moves in Dental Research Article Abstracts: Thai and International Journals
Article Sidebar
Published:
Dec 27, 2018
Keywords:
Academic writing English for academic purposes genre analysis dental research article abstract transitivity
Main Article Content
Abstract
Transitivity can be used as a stylistic device to elucidate writers’ worldview through types of processes at the level of semantic construction. This paper aims to conduct a corpus-based transitivity analysis to compare tonal styles in each of the rhetorical moves between Thai and international dental research abstracts. The datasets were constructed upon 120 dental research article abstracts randomly selected from six Thai refereed dental journals (TDRAAs) and from top five international dental journals (IDRAAs) ranked by IF (Impact Factors), respectively. The datasets were analyzed based on six process types of Halliday and Matthiessen’s (1994) and Thompson’s (2000) verbal choices of transitivity. Although both datasets shared resemblances in terms of transitivity types found in each of the rhetorical moves, verbal and existential processes were only found in Methodology moves of TDRAAs. Verbal processes were also highlighted in Discussion moves of IDRAAs. The results can be used to raise awareness of pedagogical implications for ESP courses designed for Thai dental students. It also addresses the significance of tonal styles propelled by the process types of transitivity while researchers recount experiment-based dental research studies.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
Article Details
Section
Research Articles
All rights reserved. Apart from citations for the purposes of research, private study, or criticism and review,no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any other form without prior written permission by the publisher.
References
Arrington, P. and Rose, S. (1987) Prologues to what is possible: introductions as metadiscourse. College Composition and Communication 38(3): 306-318.
Basturkmen, H. (2012) A genre-based investigation of discussion sections of research articles in Dentistry and disciplinary variation. Journal of English for Specific Purposes 11: 134-144.
Beaver, D. D. (2001) Reflections on scientific collaboration (and its study): past, present and future. Scientometrics 52: 365-377.
Berry, M. (1975) Introduction to systemic linguistics, Vol. 1. London: Batsford.
Brett, P. (1994) A genre analysis of the results section of sociology articles. English for Specific Purposes 13(1): 47-59.
Burton, D. (1982) Through glass darkly: Through dark glasses. Language and literature: An introductory reader in stylistics 194-214.
Christie, F. and Derewianka, B. (2008) School discourse: learning to write across the years of schooling. London: Continuum.
Cunanan, B. T. (2011) Using transitivity framework in a stylistic analysis of Virginia Woolf’s ‘Old Mrs. Grey’. Asian EFL Journal 54: 69-79.
Darania, L. H. (2014) Persuasive style and its realization through transitivity analysis: a SFL perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 158: 179-186.
Flowerdew, J. (2013) Discourse and English language education. London: Routledge.
Fowler, R. (1986) Linguistic criticism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1967) Notes on transitivity and theme in English, Part 1. Journal of Linguistics 37-81.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1971) Linguistic function and literary style: inquiry into the language of William Golding’s ‘The Inheritors’. In Linguistic Studies of Text and Discourse, edited by J. Webster, pp. 88-125. New York: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1976) Types of process. In Halliday: System and Function in Language, edited by G. R. Kress, pp. 159-173. London: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1978) Language as a social semiotic: the social interpretation language and meaning. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994) An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Martin, J. R. (1993) Writing science: literacy and discursive power. London: The Palmer Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Matthiessen, C. (2004) Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar. New York: Routledge.
Hu, Z. L. (1994) Discourse cohesion and coherence. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Jin, J. L. (1996) A contrastive study of English and Chinese existential sentences. Journal of Foreign Languages 10-16.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005) Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes 24: 269-292.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2013) Generic characterization of civil engineering research article abstracts. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies 19(3): 1-10.
Martı́n, P. M. (2003) A genre analysis of English and Spanish research paper abstracts in experimental social sciences. English for specific purposes 22(1): 25-43.
Martínez, I. (2001) Impersonality in the research article as revealed by analysis of the transitivity structure. English for Specific Purposes 20(3): 227-247.
Montgomery, M. (1986) DJ talk. Media Culture and Society 8: 421-440.
Nwogu, K. (1997) The medical research paper: structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes 16(2): 119-138.
Pang, J. and Chen, M. (2007) Transitivity in research articles and the realization of communicative aims: a genre analysis perspective. Journal of Foreign Languages 5: 16-22.
Pho, P. D. (2008) Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies 10(2): 231-250.
Rowley, J. E. (1988) Abstracting and indexing, 2nd edition,. London: Clive Bingley.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1978) Language as a social semiotic: the social interpretation language and meaning. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994) An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Martin, J. R. (1993) Writing science: literacy and discursive power. London: The Palmer Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Matthiessen, C. (2004) Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar. New York: Routledge.
Hu, Z. L. (1994) Discourse cohesion and coherence. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Jin, J. L. (1996) A contrastive study of English and Chinese existential sentences. Journal of Foreign Languages 10-16.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005) Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes 24: 269-292.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2013) Generic characterization of civil engineering research article abstracts. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies 19(3): 1-10.
Martı́n, P. M. (2003) A genre analysis of English and Spanish research paper abstracts in experimental social sciences. English for specific purposes 22(1): 25-43.
Martínez, I. (2001) Impersonality in the research article as revealed by analysis of the transitivity structure. English for Specific Purposes 20(3): 227-247.
Montgomery, M. (1986) DJ talk. Media Culture and Society 8: 421-440.
Nwogu, K. (1997) The medical research paper: structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes 16(2): 119-138.
Pang, J. and Chen, M. (2007) Transitivity in research articles and the realization of communicative aims: a genre analysis perspective. Journal of Foreign Languages 5: 16-22.
Pho, P. D. (2008) Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies 10(2): 231-250.
Rowley, J. E. (1988) Abstracting and indexing, 2nd edition,. London: Clive Bingley.
Salager-Meyer, F. (1990) Discoursal flaws in medical English abstracts: A genre analysis per research and text type. Text 10: 365-384.
Meyer, F. S. (1992) A text-type and move analysis study of verb tense and modality distribution in medical English abstracts. English for Specific Purposes 11: 93-113.
Samraj, B. (2002) Disciplinary variation in abstracts: The case of wildlife behavior and conservation biology. In Academic discourse, edited by J. Flowerdew, pp. 40-56. London: Pearson.
Sayfouri, N. (2010) SFL and ESP genre analysis of English research articles. Iranian and English-American medical journals. A contrastive study (Unpublished doctoral dissertation).
Short, M. (1976) Why we sympathize with Lennie. Mal Journal 1-9.
Simpson, P. (1993) Language, ideology and point of view. London: Routledge.
Swales, J. M. (1990) Genre analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J. M. (2004) Research genres: explorations and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thompson, G. (2000) Introducing functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Wales, K. (1989) Dictionary of Stylistics. London: Longman.
Wu, J. S. (2004) A multi-dimensional stylistic analysis of “academic E-mails”. Foreign Language and Their Teaching 1(2): 53-57.
Yang, X. Y. (2001) A study of the style of editorial English. Foreign Language Teaching and Research 33(5): 367-373.
Yang, X. Y. (2004) The stylistic characteristics of international politics news English. Foreign Languages Research. 3: 31-37.
Zheng S. et al,. (2014) Functional stylistic analysis: transitivity in English medium medical research articles. International Journal of English Linguistics 4(2): 12-25.
Basturkmen, H. (2012) A genre-based investigation of discussion sections of research articles in Dentistry and disciplinary variation. Journal of English for Specific Purposes 11: 134-144.
Beaver, D. D. (2001) Reflections on scientific collaboration (and its study): past, present and future. Scientometrics 52: 365-377.
Berry, M. (1975) Introduction to systemic linguistics, Vol. 1. London: Batsford.
Brett, P. (1994) A genre analysis of the results section of sociology articles. English for Specific Purposes 13(1): 47-59.
Burton, D. (1982) Through glass darkly: Through dark glasses. Language and literature: An introductory reader in stylistics 194-214.
Christie, F. and Derewianka, B. (2008) School discourse: learning to write across the years of schooling. London: Continuum.
Cunanan, B. T. (2011) Using transitivity framework in a stylistic analysis of Virginia Woolf’s ‘Old Mrs. Grey’. Asian EFL Journal 54: 69-79.
Darania, L. H. (2014) Persuasive style and its realization through transitivity analysis: a SFL perspective. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 158: 179-186.
Flowerdew, J. (2013) Discourse and English language education. London: Routledge.
Fowler, R. (1986) Linguistic criticism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1967) Notes on transitivity and theme in English, Part 1. Journal of Linguistics 37-81.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1971) Linguistic function and literary style: inquiry into the language of William Golding’s ‘The Inheritors’. In Linguistic Studies of Text and Discourse, edited by J. Webster, pp. 88-125. New York: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1976) Types of process. In Halliday: System and Function in Language, edited by G. R. Kress, pp. 159-173. London: Oxford University Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1978) Language as a social semiotic: the social interpretation language and meaning. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994) An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Martin, J. R. (1993) Writing science: literacy and discursive power. London: The Palmer Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Matthiessen, C. (2004) Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar. New York: Routledge.
Hu, Z. L. (1994) Discourse cohesion and coherence. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Jin, J. L. (1996) A contrastive study of English and Chinese existential sentences. Journal of Foreign Languages 10-16.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005) Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes 24: 269-292.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2013) Generic characterization of civil engineering research article abstracts. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies 19(3): 1-10.
Martı́n, P. M. (2003) A genre analysis of English and Spanish research paper abstracts in experimental social sciences. English for specific purposes 22(1): 25-43.
Martínez, I. (2001) Impersonality in the research article as revealed by analysis of the transitivity structure. English for Specific Purposes 20(3): 227-247.
Montgomery, M. (1986) DJ talk. Media Culture and Society 8: 421-440.
Nwogu, K. (1997) The medical research paper: structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes 16(2): 119-138.
Pang, J. and Chen, M. (2007) Transitivity in research articles and the realization of communicative aims: a genre analysis perspective. Journal of Foreign Languages 5: 16-22.
Pho, P. D. (2008) Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies 10(2): 231-250.
Rowley, J. E. (1988) Abstracting and indexing, 2nd edition,. London: Clive Bingley.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1978) Language as a social semiotic: the social interpretation language and meaning. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. (1994) An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Martin, J. R. (1993) Writing science: literacy and discursive power. London: The Palmer Press.
Halliday, M. A. K. and Matthiessen, C. (2004) Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar. New York: Routledge.
Hu, Z. L. (1994) Discourse cohesion and coherence. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
Jin, J. L. (1996) A contrastive study of English and Chinese existential sentences. Journal of Foreign Languages 10-16.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005) Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes 24: 269-292.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2013) Generic characterization of civil engineering research article abstracts. 3L: The Southeast Asian Journal of English Language Studies 19(3): 1-10.
Martı́n, P. M. (2003) A genre analysis of English and Spanish research paper abstracts in experimental social sciences. English for specific purposes 22(1): 25-43.
Martínez, I. (2001) Impersonality in the research article as revealed by analysis of the transitivity structure. English for Specific Purposes 20(3): 227-247.
Montgomery, M. (1986) DJ talk. Media Culture and Society 8: 421-440.
Nwogu, K. (1997) The medical research paper: structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes 16(2): 119-138.
Pang, J. and Chen, M. (2007) Transitivity in research articles and the realization of communicative aims: a genre analysis perspective. Journal of Foreign Languages 5: 16-22.
Pho, P. D. (2008) Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies 10(2): 231-250.
Rowley, J. E. (1988) Abstracting and indexing, 2nd edition,. London: Clive Bingley.
Salager-Meyer, F. (1990) Discoursal flaws in medical English abstracts: A genre analysis per research and text type. Text 10: 365-384.
Meyer, F. S. (1992) A text-type and move analysis study of verb tense and modality distribution in medical English abstracts. English for Specific Purposes 11: 93-113.
Samraj, B. (2002) Disciplinary variation in abstracts: The case of wildlife behavior and conservation biology. In Academic discourse, edited by J. Flowerdew, pp. 40-56. London: Pearson.
Sayfouri, N. (2010) SFL and ESP genre analysis of English research articles. Iranian and English-American medical journals. A contrastive study (Unpublished doctoral dissertation).
Short, M. (1976) Why we sympathize with Lennie. Mal Journal 1-9.
Simpson, P. (1993) Language, ideology and point of view. London: Routledge.
Swales, J. M. (1990) Genre analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J. M. (2004) Research genres: explorations and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Thompson, G. (2000) Introducing functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Wales, K. (1989) Dictionary of Stylistics. London: Longman.
Wu, J. S. (2004) A multi-dimensional stylistic analysis of “academic E-mails”. Foreign Language and Their Teaching 1(2): 53-57.
Yang, X. Y. (2001) A study of the style of editorial English. Foreign Language Teaching and Research 33(5): 367-373.
Yang, X. Y. (2004) The stylistic characteristics of international politics news English. Foreign Languages Research. 3: 31-37.
Zheng S. et al,. (2014) Functional stylistic analysis: transitivity in English medium medical research articles. International Journal of English Linguistics 4(2): 12-25.