ORIGINAL ARTICLE
This paper investigates how engineering discourse evaluates technical developments based on their utility, uselessness, or harm. It examines German-language specialized texts that report on contemporary scientific innovations, using a functional-pragmatic analysis method to explore the propositional structure of statements that convey utilitarian information. The article, published in a scientific journal, is considered in this study as a situationally conditioned speech act that aims to inform readers through the communicative strategy of explanation. The analysis focuses on identifying the implicit configurations that the author creates in the linguistic expression of propositions such as “fact,” “opinion,” and “assessment.” The combination of these propositions in one context allows describing the ways of presenting scientific data from a utilitarian point of view. Utilitarian evaluation mainly depends on the author’s explanation of cause-and-effect relationships, which form the basis for assessments. Moreover, the author often refers to authoritative opinions or experimental results to support the evaluation. The text also includes unargued assessments, which invite the reader to agree or disagree. The analysis in this paper shows that utilitarian assessments in engineering discourse are driven by the goal of professional communication. They follow the principles of rationality, provability, and objectivity, which are reflected in the author’s deliberate detachment from the subject of description. These pragmatic features are related to the values of professional communication, which involve not only providing reliable data but also promoting progressive ideas in society. The rhetorical effect of persuasion achieved by reasoned objectification of utilitarian assessments in the text is a distinctive characteristic of scientific discourse. It is also an efficient way of fulfilling the objectives of specialized communication. This study contributes to a better understanding of the pragmatic aspects of utilitarian evaluation in engineering discourse, highlighting its empirical basis and its importance for the wider field of professional communication.
The article aims to study the usage and influence of expressive syntax within a variety of culture-related articles featured in contemporary Australian digital media. Leveraging textual analysis on online articles sourced from prominent Australian newspapers such as “The Sydney Morning Herald”, “The Alice Springs News”, “Katherine Times”, and “The New Daily”, the research provides insights into the frequency and novelty of expressive syntactic elements employed within. Particularly prevalent techniques, such as parenthetical inclusions, interrogative sentences, elliptical, nominative, and parcelled constructions, are thoroughly examined for their expressive potential. The study offers a comprehensive breakdown of these syntactical elements, highlighting key types, delineating their general attributes, and enumerating the specifics of their implementation within the researched texts. It especially highlights the frequent interaction of various expressive syntax within single sentences, proposing that this phenomenon increases the techniques’ effectiveness. Furthermore, the study explores the amplification of expression through the usage of specific punctuation marks, including quotation marks, dashes, colons, brackets, semicolons, and ellipses, each undergoing a thorough analysis for potential effect. In summarizing the principal outcomes of the research, the study asserts the significant role of expressive syntactic techniques in crafting engaging and impactful cultural articles within modern Australian media.
This article explores the multifaceted nature of “The British Identity” within the context of political discourse, focusing on its representation in The Guardian newspaper. The aim of this study is to investigate the content specificity of the concept and its transformation under the influence of socio-cultural and extralinguistic factors. Through a qualitative analysis of selected articles from The Guardian, the paper examines the linguistic units used to represent the British identity and the evaluative nature of their expression. The study adopts a conceptual framework that considers the British identity as a political and cultural concept, susceptible to diverse interpretations and judgments within the ideological context. By employing a content analysis approach, the research reveals the tensions arising from the attempt to cater to both conservative and progressive factions of the UK society. The findings indicate that the representation of the British identity in The Guardian is influenced by socio-cultural factors, reflecting the evolving dynamics of British society. The analysis highlights the presence of evaluative expressions, reflecting the conceptual domain’s evaluative nature and its connection to political and cultural debates, particularly those concerning multiculturalism. While the study predominantly relies on articles from The Guardian, it acknowledges the need for broader source diversity to capture a more comprehensive understanding of the British identity. Moreover, the paper suggests that further research in this field holds promise for exploring the evolution and adaptation of conceptual domains in an ever-changing world. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by shedding light on the complex and evolving nature of the British identity within political discourse. The research serves as a foundation for future investigations into the concept of identity and its representation in professional media outlets, and its implications for social cohesion in diverse societies.
The article conducts a comprehensive comparative analysis of the structural, semantic, and pragmatic features of scientific titles within Russian and English discourses. The relevance of the research stems from the need to identify modern trends in compiling scientific metatext across various linguistic and cultural communities, aiming to discover and implement the most efficient methods of encoding and disseminating scientific knowledge. The resultant findings could significantly enhance the overall quality of scientific work. The empirical basis for this study consists of article titles pertaining to linguistic matters, with Scopus and Web of Science editions providing the English examples, while the Russian equivalents are sourced from journals registered in the State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles List. The criteria for the comparative analysis of the titles include a) qualitative and quantitative indicators of the lexical composition of the titles; b) methods of their syntactic organization; c) spectrum of the semantic dominants; d) design of the functional paradigm; e) degree and nature of expressiveness. Through this analysis, the authors identify several significant differences that shape the unique pragmatics of the aforementioned titles within their respective scientific domains. Among the most pertinent differences are the number and relative significance of the pragmatic functions carried out, giving insight into the linguistic mechanisms utilized at all textual organization levels.
Formative assessment holds a pivotal role as a fundamental methodological category for evaluating students’ expertise levels before embarking on a new educational course. This monitoring approach revolves around the concept of prior knowledge, acting as the cornerstone for the development of new knowledge formats. The formative assessment procedure is designed to incorporate various methods, including tasks and surveys, with questionnaires being a key component. This study introduces a blended questionnaire tailored for first-year Master’s degree students majoring in linguistics. The questionnaire consists of four logically structured parts, systematically evaluating learners’ prior knowledge in the educational domains of General linguistics and Theory and Practice of the English language, with a specific focus on Modern English usage. Beyond theoretical inquiries, the blended questionnaire includes practical assignments, recognizing that linguistic knowledge is intricately linked to practical language skills. Thus, theoretical understanding is exemplified through actual linguistic representations. In addition to assessing prior knowledge, the questionnaire addresses students’ opinions on the formative assessment procedure’s educational utility. This extends to identifying their strengths and weaknesses in applying linguistic knowledge, aiding future curriculum planning and fostering a culture of overall assessment competency. Recognizing the significance of formative assessment for teachers’ professional growth, the study explores its role in constantly refining testing methods and updating materials to gauge students’ prior knowledge effectively. The obtained results underscore the need for further research in formative assessment, calling for the development of new identification methods and innovative formats for knowledge acquisition based on manifestations of prior knowledge. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on formative assessment’s multifaceted role in shaping effective educational practices and enhancing both student and teacher learning experiences.
This article explores how translation transforms the original text and reveals the translator’s individual style and discursive identity. The main goal of the study is to find, describe, and analyze semantically significant lexical additions used in translation, explaining subjective meanings that are not present in the original text. The empirical data for this study comes from the first translation of M. Yu. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time” into French. This translation was published in the literary section of the Parisian newspaper “La Démocratie pacifique, journal des intérêts des gouvernements et des peuples.” The translator was Alexey Arkadyevich Stolypin (1816–1858), a contemporary and relative of the author. The article uses a descriptive method, combined with semantic, functional, contextual, comparative, and quantitative analyses. The back translation technique is also applied to enhance the presentation and analysis of the data. The study shows that translational additions have a strong anthropocentric character, divided into two main typological groups: the translator’s subjective judgments and various factual information, mainly about the characters of the novel. The prevalence of the first group demonstrates A.A. Stolypin’s communicatively active position, addressing both the French-speaking and Russian-speaking readers. The results of the study suggest that semantically significant translational additions are potential indicators of not only the translator’s individual style but also their discursive identity and professional competence. This article contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of translation and its role in shaping the subjective aspects of the translated text.