چکیده:
This study sought to investigate the variational use of nominalization in Physics and Applied Linguistics textbooks representing the hard and soft ends of the continuum of sciences, respectively. The study also aimed to compare and contrast the functions of nominalization used in the respective textbooks. To do so, 16 textbooks, eight in each discipline, suggested by experts in each field were selected; four of the textbooks in each discipline were the representatives of a higher level of linguistic difficulty and the other four exemplified a lower level. Analysis involved extracting nominal expressions and estimating nominalization density. The results showed that besides minor variations, we could identify little appreciable difference in the way nominal expression types are rendered in Physics and Applied Linguistics textbooks. It can also be concluded that nominalization is not regarded as characteristic of all academic disciplines but it might be possible to arrange disciplines on a cline of nominalization. This being so, one argument raises doubts over the use of nominalization as a rhetorical strategy to increase density or technicality at least in some, if not in many, disciplines. The idea appears premature, and thus further research might reveal more disciplinary tendencies and inclinations.
خلاصه ماشینی:
"Exploring Nominalization in Physics and Applied Linguistics Textbooks with Different Levels of Difficulty: Implications for English for Specific Purposes Alireza Jalilifar Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran Mehran Memari1 Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran Abstract This study sought to investigate the variational use of nominalization in Physics and Applied Linguistics textbooks representing the hard and soft ends of the continuum of sciences, respectively.
Though a large body of research has been done on various types of nominalization and their application in business, political, and academic texts (Banks, 2003; Colombi, 2006; Farahani & Hadidi, 2008; Hadidi & Raghami, 2012), Jalilifar, Alipour, & Parsa, 2014; Saleh, 2016; Martin, 1993; Steiner, 2003; Sušinskienė, 2009; Tabrizi & Nabifar, 2013; Wenyan, 2012, further research on nominalization in textbooks, specifically with different levels of complexity in different disciplines, is warranted.
To this end, this study seeks to investigate the variational use of nominalization from the perspective of grammatical metaphor in academic textbooks in Physics and Applied Linguistics as an example of hard and soft sciences, respectively.
In comparing the order of occurrence of nominal expression types (Tables 9 & 11), results revealed variations in Physics textbooks with high and low levels of difficulty.
In comparing the order of occurrence of nominal expression types (Tables 13 & 15), results revealed variations in Applied Linguistics textbooks with high and low levels of difficulty.
Though this study has endorsed the claim by systemists about the direct relation between nominalization density and complexity in Physics textbooks as examples of hard science, this relationship is not held in Applied Linguistics books as the representative of soft science."