Abstract
This paper deals with functional variation of language in the scientific context. The research was performed using a corpus of abstracts across various disciplines from the Digital library of the University of Novi Sad. The lengths, kinds, frequencies, and positions of moves applied in the selected abstracts were examined. Differences and similarities of moves between different scientific areas were identified and discussed. The employed methodology consisted of Hyland’s (Disciplinary discourses: Social interactions in academic writing. Longman, London, 2000) five-move model, including the move recognition criteria. Findings showed optional structures, which indicated differences among various disciplines. There were also some similarities, such as cycled patterns, that were influenced by Serbian cultural conventions. Examining the linguistic properties of dissertation abstracts can help teachers to improve their learning methods in English for specific purposes by extending the range of their pedagogical material in the domain of contemporary academic writing.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ackland, G. M. (2009). A discourse analysis of English and French research article abstracts in linguistics and economics. San Diego: Montezuma Publishing.
Al-Ali, M., & Sahawneh, Y. (2011). Rhetorical and textual Organization of English and Arabic PhD dissertation abstracts in linguistics. SKY Journal of Linguistics, 24, 7–39. Retrieved from http://www.linguistics.fi/julkaisut/SKY2011/SKYJoL2011_netti.pdf
Bhatia, V. K. (1993). Analyzing genre: Language use in professional setting. London: Longman.
Bitchener, J. (2010). Writing an applied linguistics thesis or dissertation: A guide to presenting empirical research. New York: Palgrave & Macmillan.
Cooley, L., & Lewkowicz, J. (2003). Dissertation writing in practice: Turning ideas into text. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.
Dudley-Evans, T. (1999). The dissertation: A case of neglect? In P. Thompson (Ed.), Issues in EAP writing research and instruction (pp. 28–36). Reading: Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Reading.
Endres-Niggemeyer, B. (1998). Summarizing information: Including CD-rom “SimSum” simulation of summarizing, for Macintosh and windows. Berlin: Springer.
Hyland, K. (2000). Disciplinary discourses: Social interactions in academic writing. London: Longman.
Kanoksilapatham, B. (2005). Rhetorical structure of biochemistry research articles. English for Specific Purposes, 24(3), 269–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2004.08.003.
Lores, R. (2004). On RA abstracts: From rhetorical structure to thematic organization. English for Specific Purposes, 23(3), 280–302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2003.06.001.
Li, Y. (2011). A genre analysis of English and Chinese research article abstracts in linguistics and chemistry. Approved master’s thesis, San Diego State University, CA.
Martin, M. P. (2003). A genre analysis of English and Spanish research paper abstracts in experimental social sciences. English for Specific Purposes, 22(1), 25–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(01)00033-3.
Melander, B., Swales, J. M., & Fredrickson, K. M. (1997). Journal abstracts from three academic fields in the United States and Sweden: National or disciplinary proclivities? In A. Duszak (Ed.), Cultures and styles of academic discourse (pp. 251–272). New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
Nwogu, K. N. (1991). Structure of science popularization: A genre-analysis approach to the schema of popularized medical texts. English for Specific Purposes, 10(2), 111–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(91)90004-G.
Nwogu, K. N. (1997). The medical research paper: Structure and functions. English for Specific Purposes, 16(2), 119–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-4906(97)85388-4.
Paltridge, B., & Starfield, S. (2007). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language: A handbook for supervisors. New York: Routledge.
Pho, P. D. (2008). Research article abstracts in applied linguistics and educational technology: A study of linguistic realizations of rhetorical structure and authorial stance. Discourse Studies, 10(2), 231–250. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461445607087010.
Saboori, F., & Hashemi, M. (2013). A cross-disciplinary move analysis of research article abstracts. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, 4(4), 483–496. Retrieved from http://profdoc.um.ac.ir/articles/a/1038627.pdf
Samraj, B. (2005). An exploration of a genre set: Research article abstracts and introductions in two disciplines. English for Specific Purposes, 24(2), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2002.10.001.
Santos, M. B. (1996). The textual organization of research paper abstracts in applied linguistics. Text Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Discourse, 16(4), 481–499. https://doi.org/10.1515/text.1.1996.16.4.481.
Stotesbury, H. (2003). Evaluation in research article abstracts in the narrative and hard sciences. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 2, 327–342.
Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis. English in academic and research settings. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J. M. (2004). Research genres: Explorations and applications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Swales, J., & Feak, C. (2009). Abstracts and the writing of abstracts. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Univerzitet u Beogradu. (2014). Uputstvo za izradu doktorskih disertacija. Retrieved from http://www.fpn.bg.ac.rs/studije-ii-i-iii-stepena/doktorske-studije/uputstvo-za-izradu-doktorskih-disertacija/
Univerzitet u Novom Sadu. (2014). Doktorske disertacije stavljene na uvid javnosti/Public theses. Retrieved from http://www.cris.uns.ac.rs/publicTheses.jsf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Katic, M., Safranj, J. (2018). An Analysis of Dissertation Abstracts Written by Non-native English Speakers at a Serbian University: Differences and Similarities Across Disciplines. In: Chitez, M., Doroholschi, C., Kruse, O., Salski, Ł., Tucan, D. (eds) University Writing in Central and Eastern Europe: Tradition, Transition, and Innovation. Multilingual Education, vol 29. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95198-0_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95198-0_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-95197-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-95198-0
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)