元语篇的理论和实证研究综述

Theoretical and Empirical Studies on Meta-discourse: A Review

国外学界就元语篇这一课题所做的相关理论研究较为丰富,如元语篇的定义、功能、分类和本质等方面的探讨拓宽了对元语篇特征的认识。而从哲学、社会语言学、功能语言学、认知、教学和修辞等不同层面讨论元语篇的研究文献为就元语篇所开展的实证研究作了理论铺垫。就实证研究而言,它们的研究对象基本上是母语为英语的美国大学生或在美留学的国际大学生,而且研究时间短,缺乏对学习者内在的认知因素的研究。因此,从发展的视角,采取纵向研究方法对中国学生使用元语篇的模式进行研究,比较中国学生和外国学生使用元语篇手段方面的差异很有必要。此外,也有必要建构一个理论框架来阐述影响他们使用元语篇手段的主要因素。

Previous theoretical and empirical studies on meta-discourse are reviewed in detail in this paper. First, the definitions, functions and classifications of meta-discourse are scrutinized; then salient differing theoretical approaches to meta-discourse are described. Major empirical studies on the use of meta-discourse markers are also examined critically. The paper suggests that future research with a longitudinal methodology stands in dire need and that how Chinese learners of English learn meta-discourse markers and how to construct a theoretical framework to interpret the factors that affect their use of meta-discourse markers remain an imperative in the field.