A Comparative Analysis Of Interactive Metadiscourse In Chinese And American English Linguistics Textbooks

Nowadays,with the development of English linguistics,there are more and more different versions of English linguistics textbooks in China.Although the contents of them are consistent,the discourses used are different.As a result,the sentences in some English linguistics textbooks are smooth and easy to understand,while the sentences in other English linguistics textbooks are awkward and difficult to understand.In addition,metadiscourse has been well studied in terms of academic discourse in recent years,but there is little research on metadiscourse in English linguistics textbooks.Therefore,based on this,the author uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to establish two corpora respectively,using two Chinese and American English linguistics textbooks as corpus,and analyzes the use of interactive metadiscourse in the two English linguistics textbooks based on Hyland’s(2005b)metadiscourse theoretical framework.In the research process,Ant Conc 4.0.0 is required to retrieve the interactive metadiscourse,and Loglikelihood and Chi-square Calculator 1.0 are required to obtain P-value and Chi-square value.Then the data of this study are obtained to analyze the differences in pragmatic functions.Based on the above research process,this study mainly answers the following two research questions:(1)How do Chinese English linguistics textbook and American English linguistics textbook differ in the frequency and distribution of interactive metadiscourse;(2)According to the frequency and distribution of interactive metadiscourse in these two different English linguistics textbooks,what are the similarities and differences in the functions of interactive metadiscourse.The results show that there are similarities and differences in the overall and detailed use and analysis of interactive metdiscourses in Chinese and American English linguistics textbooks.On the one hand,in terms of the overall frequency and distribution of interactive metadiscourse in Chinese and American English linguistics textbooks:(1)A large number of interactive metadiscourse is used in both corpora,but American English linguistics textbook uses more interactive metadiscourse than Chinese English linguistics textbook,which makes the discourses in American English linguistics textbook more logical and easy to understand;(2)Code glosses are the most frequently used in Chinese English linguistics textbook,followed by transitions,frame markers,evidentials,and endophoric markers.Code glosses are also the most frequently used in American English linguistics textbook,followed by transitions,endophoric markers,evidentials,and frame markers;(3)The interactive metadiscourse used by American English linguistics textbook is more abundant and more flexible.On the other hand,in the terms of the detailed analysis of interactive metadiscourse in Chinese and American English linguistics textbooks:(1)American English linguistics textbook uses more transitions than Chinese English linguistics textbook,which makes the discourses of American English linguistics textbook more logical;(2)Chinese English linguistics textbook uses more frame markers than American English linguistics textbook,while American English linguistics textbook uses more other words to express the frame structure of the text;(3)American English linguistics textbook uses more endophoric markers than Chinese English linguistics textbook,which makes the expressions of American English linguistics textbook more smooth;(4)Chinese English linguistics textbook uses more evidentials than American English linguistics textbook,which makes the discourses in Chinese English linguistics textbook more authoritative;(5)American English linguistics textbook uses more code glosses than Chinese English linguistics textbook,which makes the discourses in American English linguistics textbook easier to understand.Finally,based on the above research results,the study has positive significance for the compilation and revision of English linguistics textbooks.In addition,it is beneficial to promote English linguistics learners’ understanding of English linguistics textbooks,and also has a good effect on English linguistics learners’ learning of linguistics knowledge.To some extent,the study also contributes to the enrichment of Hyland’s metadiscourse model(2005b).