A Meta-functional Analysis of Citations in the English MA Theses in Linguistics

Abstract

Abstract:

In Linguistic MA theses, citations are used to express rich ideational meaning in terms of the construction of experiential meaning. However, Chinese EFL learners do not sufficiently cite the author’s research methods and opinions. With regard to interpersonal negotiation, reporting verbs are overused to express neutral or positive meaning, which weakens the critique. Moreover, Chinese EFL learners are more inclined to employ citations from a single source, exerting negative influence on the interpersonal negotiation between the writer and the author. In textual organization, Chinese EFL learners cannot fully integrate the author and cited content into citations compared with English native speakers.

Key words:MA theses,citations,meta-functions,academic English writing

CLC Number:

H319

TANG Wei, LIN Zheng jun. A Meta-functional Analysis of Citations in the English MA Theses in Linguistics[J]. Contemporary Foreign Languages Studies, 2022, 22(3): 122-130.

Figures/Tables5

语料库名称	篇数	总形符数	篇均形符数	总类符数	类符形符比
CMTC	30	408,418	13,614	16,278	3.99%
EMTC	30	418,639	13,955	16,534	3.95%

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