英汉语言学学术期刊英文摘要的语类结构和情态策略研究

Generic Structure and Modality Strategy in English Abstracts of English-Chinese Linguistic Research Articles

学术期刊论文摘要受到期刊规范性制约,但跨文化特征、学科差异和研究领域会影响作者对语篇修辞手段的选择。对国内外120篇语言学学术期刊英文摘要的语类结构和情态策略进行对比分析,结果显示:国内外学术期刊论文英文摘要语类结构潜势存在跨文化差异,国外期刊基本遵守IPMFC模式,国内摘要语步数量较少,常做减法,但存在共核语步,国内作者语类功能标记意识较薄弱;在认知情态词汇使用频率、分布、高频词(情态助词和认知词汇动词)等方面二者具有一定相似性,无人称情态策略更受重视,其中,被动句使用最多,其次是抽象修辞词和形式主语结构,但国内学者情态意识更趋两极化。研究结果有助于揭示学术期刊英文摘要语篇的语用目标及其语类限制,对判断并指导此类语篇写作的得体性及准确性从而融入国际学术社团具有一定的实践意义。

Research Article（ RA） abstract is a particular genre which has always aroused great interest due to the important role fulfilled in the scientific community. And the choice of certain rhetorical strategies may vary across language cultures,disciplines and academic genres. We investigated whether English and Chinese writers show differing preferences for generic structure and modality device in their English Research Articles＇ abstracts in the field of linguistic studies. 120 Research Articles＇ English abstracts were selected from recent publications in Chinese and English leading journals of linguistics. The results show that the potential generic structures of English abstracts in both types of journals are somewhat influenced by cross-cultural differences; English abstracts in both English and Chinese academic journals overseas tend to share the basic five elements of IPMFC which,though donot always occur simultaneously,but Chinese journals take fewer moves comparatively,several of which even ignore labeling the components in each move,but there exists nuclear step. And the consciousness in tag language class function of domestic anthors is relatively weak; research on the use of modality has suggested that the distribution of modality shows certain similarity in both journal articles home and abroad whereas the frequency of the use of modality differs insignificantly in that modal auxiliary verbs and epistemic lexical verbs are applied more skillfully while the other modal expressions are optional in use; some impersonal expressions are found to be employed most,among which more passive structures occur compared with abstract rhetors and other agentless structures. additionally,Chinese writers are more likely to go to two extremes in awareness of using modal devices; Overall,the analysis of generic and modal strategy in English abstract helps to reveal its pragmatic intention and generic constraint as well as serves as a reference to evaluation of its appropriacy and accuracy in the global academic community.