Zhao, Li: A Socio-cognitive Approach to Interpersonal Meaning of Code-switching

Abstract

Abstract The present paper presents the findings of a study comparing the formulations of introductions of academic articles across disciplines. A multidisciplinary corpus of 20 articles from linguistics, medicine, the natural sciences, economics, and sociology is examined. The analysis comprises two general steps, the first being macro-, the second being microstructural. Macrostructurally, the explicit formulations of the moves conducted in the introductions are singled out. These formulations are in turn examined microstructurally in regard to syntax (typology), verbs (valency, grammar-semantics interface, pragmatics) and lexicology (text commentary, lexical deixis, modal expressions). The results are evaluated against the backdrop of possible underlying stylistic patterns of formulation. Subsequently, suggestions for the feasibility of the results within the teaching of German as a (foreign) academic language are made.