Exemplification and its local grammar patterns in English as an academic lingua franca in research writing

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the underexplored rhetorical practice of authors adopting English as a lingua franca (ELF) in academic writing, focusing on their use of exemplification. By giving examples for illustration or clarification, the act of exemplifying is central to the clarity and persuasiveness of research writing. We examined it through a local grammar approach, analysing both its lexico-grammatical and discourse-semantic patterns. Based on the SciELF corpus, which comprises unproofread pre-submission drafts of ELF authors, our analysis shows that for example and “Exemplified – Indicator – Exemplification – Subordinate Category” are the dominant marker and local grammar pattern of exemplification. The use of exemplification also relates to the L1 background, professional status and disciplinary alignment of the ELF authors. Czech and Russian authors made the most and least frequent use of exemplification respectively while Finnish and Czech authors often use variant patterns of the dominant one. Additionally, senior academics, particularly from soft disciplines, make the most of exemplificatory markers and prefer the “Exemplified – Indicator – Exemplification – Relevant Studies” pattern. Our study sheds light on the rhetorical language use by ELF authors, and unravels the value of local grammars in the research of English as an academic lingua franca.