| Academic articles report the latest research results based on previous studies,requiring scholars to refer to the opinions of previous scholars in academic writing.In academic discourse research,reporting and reporting verbs(RVs)are also regarded as important indicators to measure the research level of scholars.In other words,citation of previous studies is indispensable as it assists scholars to construct research frameworks and establish a credible voice.However,previous studies on RVs in academic discourses mostly stay in the comparative study of learners and scholars without discussing the differences in the use of RVs by scholars of China and Western-based SSCI index journals,and lack in discussion on the appraisal function and evaluative significance of RVs.Based on the engagement system of the appraisal theory,this study explores how L1 and L2 scholars use different kinds of RVs to engage in external voice and express scholars’ stance when writing SSCI index English articles.Based on this,this study attempts to answer the following three research questions:1)To what extent do L1 and L2 scholars differ in their overall use of RVs?2)From the perspective of the engagement system,what do these RV choices communicate the native and non-native scholars’ stance on the evidence that is being integrated?3)What are the implications of data and causes for translating RVs and disseminating academic discourse of China?In order to answer the above research questions,this study selected four China SSCI indexed English journals and four corresponding Western journals(namely,China and World Economy & The World Economy;China Agricultural Economic Review & European Review of Agricultural Economic;Journal of Sport and Health Science & Journal of Sport Management;China Review: An Interdisciplinary Journal on Greater China & The China Journal).Seven articles are selected each year per journal from 2016 to 2020,with a total of 280 English academic articles,with two corpora of 2 million words.I annotated the collected corpora,counted the word frequency of RVs by using the software Antconc 3.4.3 and SPSS,made qualitative and quantitative analysis and discussed some strategies for efficient academic discourse dissemination.The results generate the following findings:With reference to the overall frequency,L1 scholars use more types of RVs than L2 scholars,and the top ten high-frequency of RVs used by L2 scholars is significantly higher than L1 scholars.This shows that L1 scholars are more inclined to use more RVs to engage in external academic voices and provide expansive or contractive discussion space for different viewpoints.Regarding the stance presented by RVs,L2 scholars use more attribute: distance and entertain RVs,indicating that L2 scholars tend to distance previous studies or express uncertainty about the reported views,so as to expand the dialogic space and realize the exchange of different views.On the other hand,L2 scholars use more proclaim: endorse RVs,which shows that L2 scholars tend to contract the dialogic space by endorsing the external voice or evidence.As for the disclaim: counter RVs,L1 corpus contains them with higher frequency,which demonstrates that L1 scholars rely more on them for the dialogic contraction.In particular,L1 scholars strongly rely upon more “neutral” attribute: acknowledge structures,providing no overt indication as to their intersubjective stance on the evidence.Academic scholars’ preferences of RVs are primarily due to language proficiency of L1 and L2 scholars(L1 scholars are more familiar with engagement function of RVs),journals’ coverage of topics(Critical research and positivism boast different engagement)and discursive tradition and underlying cultural values(L2 scholars tend to express neutral and positive stance because of Moderate culture).Therefore,this thesis is significant for translation studies and academic dissemination.As for translation studies,firstly,when translating RVs,translators should follow the stylistic norms of the target language,avoiding the interference of the stylistic norms of source language.Secondly,translators should consider engagement function of RVs,translating accordingly.Thirdly,translators should take the appraisal theory as a guide in translation,so as to bring the readers full aesthetic enjoyment.As for academic dissemination,Chinese scholars should also pay attention to the expression of Chinese culture when striving to use reporting verbs accurately and scientifically;they should learn to combine two different cultural backgrounds and writing rules to accurately convey stance,as well as conform to the writing norms of English articles,so as to promote Chinese academic exchange and dissemination. |
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