2. Applied Linguistics (Inspirations from neighbor disciplines)
Saleh Arizavi
Abstract
This study examines whether the use of directives in academic writing, esp. research articles (RAs) written in social and natural sciences, should be considered as an impoliteness strategy or engagement marker. Eighty RAs from four disciplines (two social sciences and two natural sciences) were analyzed, ...
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This study examines whether the use of directives in academic writing, esp. research articles (RAs) written in social and natural sciences, should be considered as an impoliteness strategy or engagement marker. Eighty RAs from four disciplines (two social sciences and two natural sciences) were analyzed, and 429 directives were identified. Two informants from each discipline assigned functions to the directives, and then rated them on a scale of impoliteness. Findings suggest except for text-external Implication/Suggestion directives in social sciences and Cognitive Warning directives in both social and natural sciences, which may carry shades of impoliteness, the other functions should be viewed as engagement markers. Thus, directives are not impolite strategies in this conservative genre. Furthermore, no significant differences in directive functions were observed between the two branches of science. RA authors often follow the prescriptive rules conventionalized in their fields; however, they also tend to use elements that are less legitimized in academic writing.
