Rhetorical Structure of Applied Linguistics Research Article Discussions: A Comparative Cross-Cultural Analysis
Abstract
Background. Recent years have seen tremendous research efforts in the development of English for academic and research publication purposes, utilising an established approach to comparative genre analysis. This growing interest is primarily driven by the global dominance of Anglophone writing conventions, which necessitates raising awareness among researchers, particularly in non-Anglophone contexts.
Purpose. This study explored and analysed the communicative intents of the discussion sections in research articles in two different contexts to investigate the effect of nativeness on the structural organisation in this genre. The focus of the study was on the rhetorical structure and employment of Moves in the applied linguistics research article Discussions, written in English by Iranian and native English-speaking researchers.
Methods. A mixed-methods research study was conducted on two corpora, comprising 40 Discussions written by Iranian scholars and 40 Discussions written by native English-speaking scholars, selected from research articles published in international peer-reviewed journals.
Results. The comparison of the two corpora revealed similarities and differences in the frequency, type, structure, sequence, and cyclicity of Moves. While there were significant differences in the frequency and sequence of Moves and Steps, both corpora employed the same types. They featured cyclical structures with no evidence of linear patterns across the Discussions. Both groups of researchers found it essential to provide background information and report and comment on the results in the research article Discussions, however, with notable differences in commenting strategies, i.e., Steps. The results indicated that socio-cultural conventions might have influenced the scholars' under- and over-employment of certain Moves and Steps in the research article Discussions.
Implications. The findings of this study provide research-based evidence to practically and pedagogically assist in the context of English for academic and specific purposes, particularly in teaching English for research publication purposes to non-native English-speaking scholars.
Downloads
References
Ahmadi, L. (2022).Interactional Metadiscourse Markers in Scientific Texts (Based on Research Articles Written by Native and Non-Native Speakers). Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya 2. Yazykoznanie [Science Journal of Volgograd State University. Linguistics], 21(4), 99-110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu2.2022.4.7
Alamri, B. (2020). A comparative study of Saudi and international journals of Applied Linguistics: The move-bundle connection approach. Journal of Language and Education, 6(2), 9-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2020.10531
Alinasab, M., Gholami, J., & Mohammadnia, Z. (2021). Genre-based revising strategies of graduate students in applied linguistics: Insights from term papers. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 49, 100941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2020.100941
Amirian, Z., Kassaian, Z., & Tavakoli, M. (2008). Genre analysis: An investigation of the discussion sections of applied linguistics research articles. The Asian ESP Journal, 4(1), 39-63.
Amnuai, W. (2019). The textual organization of the discussion sections of accounting research articles. Kasetsart Journal of Social Sciences, 40(2), 389-394.
Amnuai, W., & Wannaruk, A. (2013). Investigating Move Structure of English Applied Linguistics Research Article Discussions Published in International and Thai Journals. English Language Teaching, 6(2), 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n2p1
Anthony, L. (2018).Introducing English for specific purposes. Routledge.
Arabi, H. A. (2019). Move analysis of the discussion section in Arabic and English research articles. ESP Across Cultures, 16, 9-25.
Atai, M. R., & Falah, S. (2005). A contrastive genre analysis of result and discussion sections of applied linguistic research articles written by native and non-native English speakers with respect to evaluated entities and ascribed values. 10th Conference of Pan-Pacific Association of Applied Linguistics, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Basturkmen, H. (2012). A genre-based investigation of discussion sections of research articles in Dentistry and disciplinary variation. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11(2), 134-144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2011.10.004
Brett, P. (1994). A genre analysis of the results section of sociology articles. English for Specific Purposes, 13(1), 47-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(94)90024-8
Burrough-Boenisch, J. (2003). Shapers of published NNS research articles. Journal of second language writing, 12(3), 223-243. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1060-3743(03)00037-7
Chen, T.-Y., & Kuo, C.-H. (2012). A Genre-Based Analysis of the Information Structure of Master's Theses in Applied Linguistics. The Asian ESP Journal, 8(1), 24-52.
Cho, S. (2004). Challenges of Entering Discourse Communities Through Publishing in English: Perspectives of Nonnative-Speaking Doctoral Students in the United States of America. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 3(1), 47-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327701jlie0301_3
Cross, C., & Oppenheim, C. (2006). A genre analysis of scientific abstracts. Journal of Documentation, 62(4), 428-446. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410610700953
Darwis, N. (2019). Adapting In-Service Teacher Training Materials and Activities into Teaching English as a Foreign Language Materials as a Studi Program Lecture (A Classroom Action Research at the Group 3, 6th Semester English Education Study Program of STAIN Watampone). Ekspose: Jurnal Penelitian Hukum dan Pendidikan, 17(2), 694-708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30863/ekspose.v17i2.125
Del Saz Rubio, M. M. (2011). A pragmatic approach to the macro-structure and metadiscoursal features of research article introductions in the field of Agricultural Sciences. English for Specific Purposes, 30(4), 258-271. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2011.03.002
Dudley-Evans, T. (1994). Genre analysis: An approach to text analysis for ESP. In M. Coulthard (Ed.), Advances in Written Text Analysis (pp. 219-228). Routledge.
Glasman-deal, H. (2020). Science Research Writing: For Native And Non-native Speakers Of English (Second Edition). World Scientific Publishing Company.
Hatzitheodorou, A.-M. (2014). A Genre-oriented Analysis of Research Article Abstracts in Law and Business Journals: Anna-Maria Hatzitheodorou. In M. Bondi & R. L. Sanz (Eds.), Abstracts in Academic Discourse (pp. 175-198). Peter Lang. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3726/978-3-0351-0701-2/19
Holmes, R. (1997). Genre analysis, and the social sciences: An investigation of the structure of research article discussion sections in three disciplines. English for Specific Purposes, 16(4), 321-337.
Hopkins, A., & Dudley-Evans, T. (1988). A genre-based investigation of the discussion sections in articles and dissertations. English for Specific Purposes, 7(2), 113-121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(88)90029-4
Hu, G., & Liu, Y. (2018). Three minute thesis presentations as an academic genre: A cross-disciplinary study of genre moves. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 35, 16-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2018.06.004
Kafes, H. (2015). Cultural or Discoursal Proclivity: Rhetorical Structure of English and Turkish Research Article Abstracts. The Anthropologist, 21(1-2), 240-254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2015.11891813
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2003). A corpus-based investigation of biochemistry research articles: Linking move analysis with multidimensional analysis [Doctoral Thesis, Georgetown University].
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005). Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes, 24(3), 269-292. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2004.08.003
Le, T. N. P., & Harrington, M. (2015). Phraseology used to comment on results in the Discussion section of applied linguistics quantitative research articles. English for Specific Purposes, 39, 45-61. b. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2015.03.003
Lei, J., & Hu, G. (2019). Doctoral candidates' dual role as student and expert scholarly writer: An activity theory perspective. English for Specific Purposes, 54, 62-74. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2018.12.003
Lewin, B. A., Fine, J., & Young, L. (2001). Expository Discourse: A Genre-based Approach to Social Science Research Texts. Continuum.
Lim, J. M. H. (2006). Method sections of management research articles: A pedagogically motivated qualitative study. English for Specific Purposes, 25(3), 282-309. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.07.001
Loi, C. K., Evans, M. S., Lim, J. M.-H., & Akkakoson, S. (2016). A Comparison Between Malay and English Research Article Discussions:A Move Analysis. SAGE Open, 6(2), 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016652925
Lu, X., Yoon, J., & Kisselev, O. (2021). Matching phrase-frames to rhetorical moves in social science research article introductions. English for Specific Purposes, 61, 63-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.10.001
Marefat, H., & Mohammadzadeh, S. (2013). Genre analysis of literature research article abstracts: A cross-linguistic, cross-cultural study. Applied Research on English Language, 2(2), 37-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22108/are.2013.15469
Moreno, A. I. (2021). Selling research in RA discussion sections through English and Spanish: An intercultural rhetoric approach. English for Specific Purposes, 63, 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2021.02.002
Nodoushan, M. (2011). A structural move analysis of discussion sub-genre in applied linguistics. 2012: 6th International Conference on Languages, E-Learning and Romanian Studies, Isle of Marstrand, Sweden.
Nwogu, K. N. (1989). Discourse variation in medical texts: Schema, theme and cohesion in professional and journalistic accounts [Doctoral Thesis, Aston University].
Peacock, M. (2002).Communicative moves in the discussion section of research articles. System, 30(4), 479-497. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0346-251X(02)00050-7
Peng, J. (1987). Organizational features in chemical engineering research articles. English Language Research Journal, 1(4), 79-116.
Ruiying, Y., & Allison, D. (2003). Research articles in applied linguistics: Moving from results to conclusions. English for Specific Purposes, 22(4), 365-385. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(02)00026-1
Sadeghi, K., & Alinasab, M. (2020). Academic conflict in Applied Linguistics research article discussions: The case of native and non-native writers. English for Specific Purposes, 59, 17-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2020.03.001
Sadeghi, K., & Shirzad Khajepasha, A. (2015). Thesis writing challenges for non-native MA students. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 20(3), 357-373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2015.1063808
Samar, R. G., Talebzadeh, H., Kiany, G., & Akbari, R. (2014). Moves and steps to sell a paper: a cross-cultural genre analysis of applied linguistics conference abstracts. Text & Talk, 34, 759-785.
Samraj, B. (2002).Introductions in research articles: variations across disciplines. English for Specific Purposes, 21(1), 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(00)00023-5
Santos, M. B. D. (1996). The textual organization of research paper abstracts in applied linguistics. Text - Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Discourse, 16(4), 481-500. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.1996.16.4.481
Schmidt, L. A. (2004). Psychometric evaluation of the writing-to-learn attitude survey. Journal of Nursing Education, 43(10), 458-465. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20041001-04
Shang, H.-F. (2013). Factors associated with English as a foreign language university students writing anxiety.International Journal of English Language Teaching, 1(1), 1-12.
Soler-Monreal, C. (2015). Announcing one's work in PhD theses in computer science: A comparison of Move 3 in literature reviews written in English L1, English L2 and Spanish L1. English for Specific Purposes, 40, 27-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2015.07.004
Stoller, F. L., & Robinson, M. S. (2013). Chemistry journal articles: An interdisciplinary approach to move analysis with pedagogical aims. English for Specific Purposes, 32(1), 45-57. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2012.09.001
Swales, J. (1990). Genre analysis: English in academic and research settings. Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J. (2004). Research Genres: Explorations and Applications. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139524827
Tahririan, M. H., & Jalilifar, A. R. (2004). Generic analysis of thesis and dissertation abstracts: variation across cultures. Iranian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 121-143.
Tankó, G. (2017). Literary research article abstracts: An analysis of rhetorical moves and their linguistic realizations. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 27, 42-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2017.04.003
Woodrow, L. (2017).Introducing course design in English for specific purposes. Routledge.
Yang, W. (2016). Evaluative language and interactive discourse in journal article highlights. English for Specific Purposes, 42, 89-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2016.01.001
Zhang, B., & Wannaruk, A. (2016). Rhetorical Structure of Education Research Article Methods Sections. PASAA: Journal of Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand, 51, 155-184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14456/pasaa.2016.6
Zhang, Y. (2018). Exploring EFL Learners' Self-Efficacy in Academic Writing Based on Process-Genre Approach. English Language Teaching, 11(6), 115-124. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v11n6p115
Copyright (c) 2022 National Research University Higher School of Economics

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the Copyright Notice.