Conceptualization of Genre of Review in Scientific Discourse: Genre-Based Approach

Abstract.

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF GENRE OF REVIEW IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE: GENRE-BASED APPROACH

Julia Antonenko

Department of Russian Philology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Lviv region, Ukraine

Available 8 September 2013.

Abstract

Relevance

The research of speech genres is an actual problem of modern linguistics but cognitive and communicative peculiarities of scientific review genre model’s realization in dynamics of change and development did not attract intently attention of researchers, therefore, we can define the relevance of chosen problem.

Purpose

The purpose of the analysis is to highlight the peculiarities of realization of genre model of the scientific review in the academic discourse throw the genre-forming factor of communicative purpose.

Tasks

The purpose raises the following tasks: the clarification of aspects of genre-based studying of the review article; establishment of variety of review’s article communicative purposes; disclosure the correlation between social and cultural changes-in-time, conventions of discourse community and explication of communicative purposes in genre.

Novelty

The novelty of the analysis is defined with synthesis of genre studies, Cognitive linguistics, pragmatics and discourse analyses studies, setting the main aspects of the speech genres in communication.

Theoretical value

The theoretical value of the study is reasoned with disclosure of discourse specific and purposes of academic world, specification of speech genre models and developing of genre-based methods of analysis of speech genres in discourse.

Practical value

Theoretical developments give reasons for practical importance of the proposed research, which may be used in cross-disciplinary studies: pedagogics, cultural studies, sociolinguistic studies, CDA, pragmatics, as well as developments in the application of genre models of the communicative competence skills.

Conclusion

The communicative and pragmatic potential of the genre of the scientific review article represents in the dynamic set of the communicative purposes. The evaluation and presentation of the new knowledge in discourse exists the primary genre-forming intentions. The genre specific of the scientific review article supplements by not always explicit in regulatory and preventive, advertising and didactic communicative purposes.

Perspective

The genre-based approach makes possible to expand notions about genre models in the scientific discourse and to outline new approaches to reconsideration of the scientific communication and speech genres that determine the future research.

Research highlights

► The article is devoted to the conceptualization of speech genre of the review in the scientific discourse throw genre-forming characteristic of the communicative purpose. ► The author considers the dependence of peculiarities of language realization of genre model from the dynamics of changing of the communicative needs of the discourse community. ► The communicative requirements of the scholars correct the set of communicative purposes of genre according to actual necessities of the academic community.

Keywords: speech genre, review, scientific discourse, model of genre, discourse community, communicative purpose.

References

Bazhenova, E. A. (2010). Precedentnye edinicy v nauchnom tekste. Rossijskaja i zarubezhnaja filologija. Moskva, 3 (9), 32-36.

Bahtin, M. M. (1997). Problema rechevyh zhanrov. Sobranie sochinenij v semi tomah. Moskva: "Russkie slovari", 5, 732.

Kul'tura russkoj rechi, (1997). Kul'tura russkoj rechi. Uchebnik dlja vuzov. Moskva: Izdatel'skaja gruppa NORMA-INFRA.

Mironova, N. N. (1997). Diskurs-analiz ocenochnoj semantiki. Uchebnoe posobie. Moskva: NVI – TEZAURUS.

Rozhdestvenskij, Ju. V. (1996). Obshhaja filologija. Moskva: Fond "Novoe tysjacheletie".

Trojanskaja, E. S. (1985) Nauchnoe proizvedenie v ocenke avtora recenzii. (K voprosu o specifike zhanrov nauchnoj literatury). Nauchnaja literatura: Jazyk, stil', zhanry. Moskva: Nauka.

Chernjavskaja, V. E. (2009). Lingvistika teksta: Polikodovost', intertekstual'nost', interdiskursivnost'. Uchebnoe posobie. Moskva: Knizhnyj dom "LIBROKOM".

Yakhontova, T. V. (2009). Linhvistychna henolohiya naukovoyi komunikatsiyi: monohrafiya. L'viv: Vydavnychyy tsentr LNU imeni Ivana Franka.

Bhatia, V. K. (1993). Analyzing genres: Language in Professional Settings. London and New York: Longman.

Swales, J. (1990). Genre analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Correspondence: soleilvirt@gmail.com

Vitae

Julia M. Antonenko is Post-Graduate Student at Department of Russian Philology in Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. Her research interests focus on genre studies, discourse analysis, cognitive linguistics, communicative linguistics, and pragmatic studies.

Article.

Julia Antonenko

УДК 81'42:001.85

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF GENRE OF REVIEW IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE: GENRE-BASED APPROACH

The article is devoted to the conceptualization of speech genre of the review in the scientific discourse throw genre-forming characteristic of the communicative purpose. The author considers the dependence of peculiarities of language realization of genre model from the dynamics of changing of the communicative needs of the discourse community. The communicative requirements of the scholars correct the set of communicative purposes of genre according to actual necessities of the academic community.

Keywords: speech genre, review, scientific discourse, model of genre, discourse community, communicative purpose.

Contemporary works on speech genres in academic discourse have found the reflection in series of works of modern scholars [Баженова 2010; Чернявская 2009; Яхонтова 2009; Bhatia 1993], but cognitive and communicative peculiarities of scientific review genre model’s realization in dynamics of change and development did not attract intently attention of researchers, therefore, we can define the relevance of chosen problem. Thus, the aims of given article is to highlight the peculiarities of realization of genre model of the scientific review in the academic discourse genre forming factor of communicative purpose. The purpose raises the following tasks: the clarification of aspects of genre-based studying of the review article; establishment of variety of review’s article communicative purposes; disclosure the correlation between social and cultural changes-in-time, conventions of discourse community and explication of communicative purposes in genre. The analysis is based on the review articles of academic journals “Вопросы языкознания” and “Вопросы литературы” within the period commencing 1980 and ending 2010.Modern linguistics consolidates many approaches and fields of studying the language phenomena. Anthropocentric paradigm in the linguistics that proclaim indissoluble unity of language and the native speaker of that given language sets scientists thinking about overall research of communicative processes. The problems of speech activity from the point of communicative view in genre studies are working out. The field of genre studies resides in cross-discipline connection with such approaches as cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis, theory of text, pragmatics. However, genre studies assume as a basis the conception of speech genres founded by M.M. Bakhtin [Бахтин 1997].

The scientific discourse coordinate the interaction between scientists and evince in set of the speech genres which accomplish different communicative functions and founded on common goals which should be achieved in accordance with all members of discourse community shaping the discourse.

Variety of speech genres of scientific discourse clarify by plurality of communicative tasks conventionally established in discourse community. The description of communicative purpose of the scientific review seems like first step in determination of cognitive and pragmatic peculiarities of the specified speech genre. In our opinion, the communicative purpose of the scientific review can be deduced from the whole complex of extralinguistic parameters that describes various aspects of existence of scientific discourse.

Suppose so, the necessity of representation of the new scientific information revealed in such speech genres as article, thesis, monograph, scientific report, etc., and needs of critical re-understanding, systematization and impartial assessment of scientific knowledge according to community development exposed in the scientific review lays down the essential foundation of scientific discourse. According to N. Mironova, it is possible to infer that review is prototypical text representation of author’s evaluative intention [Миронова 1997: 66].

Let introduce clarity into given view from the position of variety of pragmatic strategies puts into discourse practice. The set of communicative purposes spreads all discourse levels and actualize in it in different ways. Institutional relationships impose quite a few conventional restrictions determinate the character of actualization of genre model in processes of creation and appreciation of scientific knowledge.

Indeed, the genre of review belongs to the scientific discourse in the sense of realization of axiological aspect of discourse. However, it is necessary to understand that extent of reveal of evaluation component in scientific review depending on discourse application level. The scientific discourse as institutional foundation organized in the hierarchic way. Thereby, all sphere of the Russian science discourse consist of the discourse subsets incorporated by the common communicative aims and social relationships attached to the position in academic world.

The important condition of maintenance of homogeneous character of the scientific environment becomes the quality control over scientific knowledge which should be provide at all stages of its creation and representation to the academic community. Thus, inside of the scientific discourse as social institution we can mark out several levels of realization of genre of the review.

Already at the primary stages of verification of unpublished scientific texts, the review becomes the needed instrument of the evaluation. We suggest that in that case the communicative purpose includes the procedure of checking of “legitimacy” of scientific knowledge and compliance of the selected genre form with the requirements according to norms and standards of the scientific statement.

The peer review permits to establish the threshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant content and discourse expertise, and thereby separate scientific texts from unscientific. As it sees, peer reviewing does not show personal individuality. If that is so, belonging to internal working documentation makes review accessible to narrow circle of people. Accordingly, it does not require the explication of the linguistic personality. Moreover, principles of reviewing means that the person will be hide to help foster unvarnished criticism, and to discourage cronyism in funding and publication decisions.

It seems that the academic journals reviews forms separate genre field – we shall name them “opened” review articles. Evaluative strategy of realization of communicative purposes bring it together with the genre of “closed” peer reviews, which not becoming property of the scientific statement. However, ways of their realization come into being of emerge from other complex of pragmatic strategies.

Consequently, we can insist that process of peer reviewing based on conceptually other pragmatic intensions. The text published in the scientific periodical set up for the scientific statement and potentially become one with the addressee. Rigorous requirements to language and structural execution of genre model are necessary for achievement of author's idea clarity, unambiguity of understanding of meaning to all addressees.

Such selective approach seems to be well-grounded because on the communicative purposes of scientific community the specific character of genre representation in periodicals lays.

The reviewers admitted to the publication in leading academic journal are obliged to adhere to the high standards of the scientific statement and to follow principles of scientific ethics. The dependability of published information partially based on presupposition knowledge about history of journal beginnings, scholar reputation of authors.

The genre of the scientific review article is the independent speech genre intended for representation of communicative and pragmatic purposes of scholar discourse community and individual intensions of the reviewer. In this case, the scientific review article reveals the wide range of communicative tasks and becomes the independent textual model standing nearby “kernel” [Троянская 1985: 192] genres of scientific communication.

The needs of the scientific community for the genre of the review article occasioned by such extralinguistic factors as scientific and technical progress, and recently by progress of the Internet-communication that allows scientists all of world operatively connect with each other and share new ideas, but also intend for further the progress of science. The constant extension of information stream requires the assure orderliness of scientific knowledge. It is necessary to highlight the most important for the discourse community parts of discourse.

According to Yu. Rozhdestvensky, the scientific criticism plays the important role in discourse and “helps to support the integrity of scientific term system as well as retains the identity of premises of science and image of scientific subject” [Рождественский 1996: 235].

Genre of the scientific review article takes up the most important scientific publications and evaluates their significance in development of the scientific paradigms. The scientific review article directed to give scholars theopportunity to obtain the new knowledge helps in further research and precludes the duplication of scientific results. Evaluative character of the scientific review article plays large part in forming and development of the scientific discourse. Review article analyze or discuss research previously published by others.

When the scientific work will be published and available to the scholar community, the purpose of review’s article gets complementary connotations. Genre purpose besides evaluative and regulative components involves advertising and educational aspects.

The scientific review article not only gives the evaluation of scientific work but also puts it in the context of modern science and provides the synthesis of research on a topic at that moment in time. It is impossible to imagine the scientific review article that forms an estimate on the out-of-date concepts of subject of the analysis. That is, the basis of value findings must be up-to-dateness. Thus, the review article seems as the response to the new scientific information. Systematization of scientific knowledge of the certain field of the science provides by this genre. Therefore, we can mark out implicit communicative purpose of the genre – systematization of the scientific knowledge and filling the gaps in the scientific picture of the world.

Refereeing of the scholarly works is act as important component of scientific knowledge. Such as was pointed, the peer reviewing sifts out substandard works. Review articles in the leading academic journals of the country (such as, doubtless, “Вопросы литературы” and “Вопросы языкознания”) discuss the peer-reviewed works. Thus, the reviewer works with potentially qualitative scientific product and has more space for the creativity and reconsideration of the communicative purposes of the genre. It is wrong to believe that the communicative purpose of the genre of the scientific review article become apparent in evaluation of the scientific work. Frequently it transforms in the field for the discussion reflecting disputable issues of the book of research paradigm.

According to J. Swales [Swales 1990], the set of the communicative purposes could be changed following changes in social and cultural organization or internal development of the discourse community. It is necessary to point out that variety of review’s communicative purposes influenced by the status of social institution of the science in the society of the nineties of the 20^th century.

Sociopolitical realities of nineties became the reason for depreciation of the academic institution in the society. That reflected, in particular, on reduction of review articles. According to Yu. Rozhdestvensky, “The reduction of the scientific crirticism usually leads to the breach of term system and to the infringements of the integrity of scientific subject” [Рождественский 1996: 235].

As noted above, the review article do not assess the texts obviously incongruous with the requirements of the discourse community. According to Т. Matveeva, “The choice of the object, the fact that it selects for reviewing already testifies to the merits of this object and meaningfulness for the general addressee” [КРР 2003: 561]. The discourse community membership obliges to possess the professional knowledge, to distinguish purposes of community and to be able to actualize them in speech genres. Infringement of the mechanism of selection of relevant texts has caused necessity of changing of the communicative purpose.

Review articles 2000s includes in the circle of discussed texts substandard works. Such broadening of the communicative purpose of the review article connected with the barest necessity of restoration of the lost integrity of scientific knowledge. It is necessary to tell, that all set of genres influences the general character of a discourse therefore changes of one genre entail transformations of other genres and whole discourse system. Therefore, we can speak about actualization of the preventive purpose directing on the protection of science from the low-quality works.

Furthermore, we explicate the didactic purpose of the scientific review article associated with popularization of science. I. Shaitanov, professor, Doctor of Philology and the chief editor of “Вопросы литературы” broaden the circle of potential readers of journal to the students. It is necessary to tell that genre field of the scientific review article do not include the didactic problems however diffusion of discourse bound do not exclude indirect presence of the specified communicative purpose. The invasion of the commercial relations into the academic institution causes interdiscourse adoption of the advertising purpose. The advertising purpose in the scientific review article is to promote the book under review.

The communicative and pragmatic potential of the genre of the scientific review article represents in the dynamic set of the communicative purposes. The evaluation and presentation of the new knowledge in discourse exists the primary genre-forming intentions. The genre specific of the scientific review article supplements by not always explicit in regulatory and preventive, advertising and didactic communicative purposes. The genre-based approach makes possible to expand notions about genre models in the scientific discourse and to outline new approaches to reconsideration of the scientific communication and speech genres that determine the future research.

References.

References

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Троянская 1985: Троянская, Е.С. Научное произведение в оценке автора рецензии. (К вопросу о специфике жанров научной литературы) [Текст] / Е. С. Троянская // Научная литература : Язык, стиль, жанры. – М. : «Наука», 1985. − С. 67-81.

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Яхонтова 2009: Яхонтова, Т.В. Лінгвістична генологія наукової комунікації : монографія [Текст] / Т. В. Яхонтова. – Львів : Видавничий центр ЛНУ імені Івана Франка, 2009. – 420 c.

Bhatia 1993: Bhatia, V.K. Analyzing genres : Language in Professional Settings [Текст] / V. K. Bhatia. – London and New York : Longman, 1993. – 246 pр.

Swales 1990: Swales, J. Genre analysis : English in Academic and Research Settings [Текст] / J. Swales – Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1990. – 260 pр.

Стаття направлена на концептуалізацію мовленнєвого жанру рецензії в науковому дискурсі шляхом експлікації жанротворчого параметру комунікативної мети. Розглядається залежність особливостей мовної реалізації жанрової моделі від динаміки зміни комунікативних потреб дискурсивної спільноти. Комунікативні потреби науковців коригують набір комунікативних цілей жанру в залежності від актуальних прагнень академічної спільноти.

Ключові слова: мовленнєвий жанр, рецензія, науковий дискурс, жанрова модель, дискурсивна спільнота, комунікативна мета.

Available 8 September 2013.