Linguistic Choices in Two Research Articles in Physics: study of an author’s development

Abstract

This study seeks to identify linguistic elements that could help understand the process by which scientists, who are already familiar with research article conventions, develop as authors. It focuses on the choices made in Theme, identified as elements which come in first position in the clause, and compares two articles published in Physical Review B by the American Physical Society. The articles are the first and the last of a series of five articles written by the same researcher on the same problem in physics. The study also presents interviews conducted with the author and other physicists that indicate ways in which the articles differ. The method of analysis of the texts uses a formulation of Theme that includes Subject as an obligatory element. The analysis, using taxonomies proposed by Davies (1988 & 1997) and Gosden (1993 & 1996), suggests that elements in Theme can be manipulated by writers not only to organise their message, but also, and importantly, to evaluate their research and negotiate with the reader. The results of the analysis and the interviews show a tendency for increased authorial presence as experience in communicating science increases.