ANALYSIS OF LINGUISTIC REALIZATIONS OF ABSTRACTS ON ASIAN EFL JOURNAL

Abstract

Abstract

Recently, the abstract is a compulsory component of a Research Article (RA) for most scientific journals. It is acknowledged that abstracts and RAs differ in their function; linguistic realizations, and rhetorical structure (Lores 2004: 281).  The aim of the  study is to analyze the linguistic realizations of each move  in RA  abstracts.  The sources of data are 50 (fifty) abstracts of Asian EFL journal articles published between 2005-2009.  The writer listed each move frequency of rhetorical structure based on Hyland’s theory; Introduction (M1), Purpose (M2), Method (M3), Results (M4) and Conclusion (M5).Then, she analyzed lingusitic realizations of each move focusing on the lexis and the verb tense. It is found that there is variety of the lexis’ use of various Criticisms, Gap and Innovation in the field in Move 1 as well as nominal references and typical verbs in Move 2,3,4 and 5. The use of Modals is mostly used in Move 5 and that-complement clause in Move 4 and 5. The self reference pronoun is barely used. The analysis of the Verb tense found that  present simple and active voice were the most frequently used in all moves findings. It is hoped that the result of the research can be as an empirical reference for novice writers of similar researches.

Keywords: Genre, Research article abstracts, Rhetorical Structure, Linguistic Realizations.